A sheriff's deputy is recovering after being accidentally shot in the shin by a fellow deputy, officials said.
The accident happened on the 17th floor of the Berks County Courthouse Monday morning around 9:30, authorities said.
"The Berks County Sheriff's Office was conducting training exercises, and one of the weapons that was supposed to be unloaded was not, and a deputy winded up shooting another deputy accidentally," said Chief Bill Heim.
At the center of this incident was a new departmental-issued thigh holster.
Officials say they had received word from the U.S. Marshal's office that the holster was vulnerable to a suspect reaching inside the holster and pulling the trigger.
Deputy sheriffs went to the 17th floor, unloaded their weapons, and tested the department-issued holster for possible flaws, investigators said.
When the exercise was over, that's when everything went wrong.
"The deputy just turned his back and didn't see Deputy Parsons actually load his weapon and return it to his holster," said Sheriff Eric Weaknecht.
Officials say that deputy, who has not been identified, did not realize the exercise was finished, and grabbed Parson's gun in its holster, pulled the trigger, and fired a shot into deputy Parson's right shin.
Authorities say Parsons was rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery.
"He's in recovery now. His wife is with him, our chaplain is with him, and he's doing good," said Weaknecht.
Police say there will be no criminal charges filed in this case.
"From time to time, although preventable, you will have these types of incidents that occur," said Heim.
There were no civilians on the 17th floor at the time of the shooting, investigators said.
Officials say they have suspended use of the holster in question. There is a meeting scheduled for Friday where officials will consider alternatives, authorities said.
