Chestertown cop shoots himself

CHESTERTOWN, Md. - A Chestertown police officer shot himself while cleaning a gun at his home Wednesday night and had to be transported to the Maryland Shock-Trauma Unit in Baltimore, police said.

According to Chestertown Police Chieft Adrian Baker, the unidentified officer, a 30-year veteran of the force, had earlier in the day completed a semi-annual firearms training. While cleaning a gun, the officer shot himself in the left hand. He was initially taken to a local hospital before being taken to Shock-Trauma.

Chief Baker declined to give the name and medical status of the officer, only disclosing that he was being treated for a non-life threatening wound. He added that the Maryland State Police had begun an independent investigation into the shooting.