Chicopee police officer in ICU after ‘serious medical event’

A Chicopee police officer is in the ICU after a “serious medical event” Sunday, the department stated.

Officer Mark Wilkes was part of the Chicopee Police and Fire Departments’ annual Battle of the Badges Hockey game earlier in the day Sunday. The police department won and Wilkes returned home, the department said.

But around 7:30 p.m. Wilkes “was not feeling well,” the department stated. He then called 911 and asked for an ambulance. While on the way to the hospital, Wilkes had a “serious medical event,” the department said. It required CPR.

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“These life saving measures continued the entire ride to the hospital,” the department stated.

As of Tuesday, the department said the police officer is still in the ICU.

“While Officer Wilkes has a long road to recovery, we would like to thank the Chicopee Fire Department for the care they provided to our brother in blue,” the department wrote on Facebook. “We also want to thank all of the Doctors and Nurses that are continuing to care for Officer Wilkes in the hospital.”

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The police department also asked “for everyone to keep Officer Wilkes and his family in their thoughts and prayers as he continues to fight.”

More than 250 people shared the Facebook post, many continuing to ask others for prayers.