An Indianapolis police officer is recovering after trying to stop a fight that turned out to be fake.

Local news channel WTHR reports that the officer was invited to give a presentation to a church group on how to deal with the police when a fight broke out between two men at the back of the room of a rec centre.

"First, it was verbal, then it became physical and the officer doing his duty went to intervene," said Fraternal Order of Police President Sgt. William Owensby.

"The minister, facilitating the event, jumped in between them and said, 'Don't shoot! This is staged. This has been staged,'" said Owensby.

The officer was thrown to the ground after stepping in.

The police department said the fight was staged by a minister from the Mt. Vernon Community Missionary Baptist Church to see how the officer would react.

"People are testing an officer with a loaded gun, with a Taser, with pepper spray, with a baton. I think that is totally stupid, to be perfectly honest with you," Public Safety Director Dr. Frank Straub told WTHR.

Police are investigating the incident.