Harmony Twp officer shot in my boro

Article here.

http://www.timesonline.com/news/loca...b7f9fa309.html


HARMONY TWP. -- As a township police officer recovers from being shot in the chest early Wednesday, local, state and federal investigators are searching for the suspect who remains at large.

The Harmony Township officer, who has not been identified, was on patrol at 3:47 a.m. near the intersection of Beaver and Harmony avenues when he noticed a man who appeared to be breaking into a car, state police Lt. Eric Hermick said. The officer called into the dispatch center, but wasn't able to provide an exact location for the suspect.

Hermick said police believe the man approached the patrol car, shot the officer though the passenger-side window and ran away. The officer was shot at least one time in the chest.

Emergency dispatchers heard muffled sounds over the officer's radio at the time of the shooting but never received a call for help.Police from several local departments were called to assist, and a responding Conway officer found the Harmony officer unconscious behind the steering wheel of his patrol car, Hermick said.

Investigators said the officer returned fire but are unsure if the suspect was hit.

"We haven't seen any physical evidence to indicate he has been wounded, but there was heavy rain during the time of the incident," Hermick said.

Investigators believe the suspect was able to run away, as a witness reported seeing him flee while still carrying a gun.

The Harmony police cruiser was found stopped in a patch of grass, Hermick said.

The officer was taken to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh and has since been "medically cleared," said Beaver County District Attorney Anthony Berosh.

Residents in the area of the incident were notified by the Beaver County 911 Center and were initially asked to remain inside. State Trooper Dan Kesten said that restriction was lifted Wednesday afternoon, though residents are still asked to use caution.

"(The suspect) is clearly armed and dangerous," Hermick said. "You have an individual that just tried to kill a police officer in a small community like this. I mean, if you're going to shoot a police officer, you'll shoot anybody. … We have to get somebody that's this dangerous off the streets."

Investigators originally set up a command center near the scene of the incident, but later moved their hub to the 911 center in Ambridge. Berosh said this move was made to ensure better communication from that facility.

"(State police) brought in tons of resources," Hermic said, including multiple local police departments from Beaver and Allegheny counties, FBI and officials from the attorney general's office.

Throughout the morning, investigators went door to door across Harmony Township, processed physical evidence collected at the scene, conducted interviews and began an aerial search from a police helicopter, Hermick said.

Officials also started following leads of people who match the description of the shooter, he said. Because of concerns that the suspect ran into a nearby woods or house, several police dog units were called to canvass the area, Hermick said.

"At this point, we're just throwing all of our resources and assets at it to apprehend this dangerous individual," he said.

Debby David, of Lenz Avenue, said she woke up at 4 a.m. to take her dog outside. She noticed several officers in the area and was told by police to get into her home. David said the area is typically very quiet and was shocked by the incident.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned African American about 6 feet tall with dreadlocks between 3 and 4 inches long. He was last seen wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt, police said.

While the officer is going to be all right, Berosh said, the trauma lingers for all officers.

"What may have appeared to be routine -- basically somebody tampering with some cars -- makes the point that police work is very dangerous because we can see how fast it accelerates," he said. "And thank God that the officer is all right and his bulletproof vest … worked the way it's suppose to."

As a result of the manhunt, the Ambridge Area School District canceled classes at its three elementary schools. Junior high and high school students were released at the regular time Wednesday afternoon, Business Manager Minnie Baker said. High school boys football and soccer practices have been moved indoors and offsite, and all other after-school extracurricular activities were canceled, she said.

Classes at all Ambridge Area schools will resume as usual Thursday morning.

With threats against police a constant fear, Hermick said he isn't shocked that an officer was targeted. He is relieved, however, for the officer's safety.

"We're just glad that he wore his protective vest and it saved his life. We're not doing a death notification; we're doing an investigation," he said.

State police are asking anyone with information to call them at 724-773-7400. Beaver County Crime Stoppers will be offering a reward up to $10,000 for information about the incident that leads to an arrest, police said.




And the wife says "Glad you have loaded guns in the house. When is our next range trip". Talk about close to home. This was way to close to my house. Glad the officer is ok. I think this is our first shooting of an officer ever in our boro. Well there goes the neighborhood.

I'm glad he was wearing his vest. One up in New York wasn't, got shot in the chest and died. Not wearing a vest is like not wearing a seat belt---stupid.

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Originally Posted by unclejumbo

I'm glad he was wearing his vest. One up in New York wasn't, got shot in the chest and died. Not wearing a vest is like not wearing a seat belt---stupid.

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FYI, Police Officer Holder WAS wearing his vest, unfortunately he was shot in the middle of his head.

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Originally Posted by 1911Operator

FYI, Police Officer Holder WAS wearing his vest, unfortunately he was shot in the middle of his head.

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Sorry, this is the one. It was not recent, it was a repost on the anniversary of his death.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/21489-p...r-arthur-lopez