Funeral plans being made for Officer Torres

WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - On Friday, Westfield Mayor Daniel Knapik will announce funeral arrangements for a city police officer who was killed Thursday morning on a construction detail.

Officer Jose Torres was struck by a dump truck while working on Pontoosic road, Thursday morning.

Police officers are typically assigned to these construction details, so this wasn't an unusual job. Unfortunately though, this particular one went terribly wrong.

Westfield Police Captain Hipolito Nunez told 22News that the accident happened around 7:30 AM, and by 10:00 AM he had learned that his fellow officer had died.

"So for us, here at the police department, he will be missed dearly. As his personal friend, I will miss him forever", said a tearful Captain Nunez.

"It breaks your heart. You just think of their family...and you just never know when they leave the house in the morning if they're coming home", said Westfield resident, Terri Hathaway.

Fellow officers say Torres, who was on the force for 27 years, dedicated his life to his family and the city which he was born and raised in.

22News will make sure to update you with details of the officer's funeral plans as soon as they become available.