Rochester officer killed was because of a chase and shootout on Wednesday night, confirmed the Rochester Police Department. According to officials on Thursday, the Rochester officer killed is the first member of Rochester police force to be killed in the line of duty since 1959.
Right now, the Rochester police are still investigating the shooting which had the Rochester officer killed, reports USA Today.
According to WHEC Rochester and CBS affiliate WROC, the incident which had the Rochester officer killed happened after the officer responded to a call about a fight in the area of Hudson Avenue and Warsaw Street around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Rochester Police Chief Michael Ciminelli said the officer was shot while pursuing the suspect.
According to police, say it appears the shooting incident which had the Rochester officer killed happened when police tried to apprehend the suspect. Officials said that the exchange of gunfire occurred as the chase began.
Rural/Metro Medical Services said an officer was shot and taken via police vehicle to Rochester General Hospital, where the officer eventually died.
According to the Associated Press, Ciminelli said the suspect was wounded during the shooting. By early Thursday, the suspect was in surgery. An innocent bystander also reportedly sustained non-life threatening injuries after being struck during the shooting.
During an early Thursday news conference, Ciminelli said, "It is with a sad and heavy heart that I come before you to announce that tonight we lost one of our own."
Ciminelli added, "A police officer who gave his life in the line of duty, who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the people of Rochester."
The case of the Rochester officer killed is still under investigation. Ciminelli said there are no other suspects besides the one currently at the hospital.
According to USA Today, assisting in the investigation are the New York State Police and Monroe County Sheriff's deputies.
Meanwhile, Rochester City Council President Loretta C. Scott has also released a statement regarding the incident with the Rochester officer killed.
Scott said, "The City Council would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family of the RPD officer that was killed this evening while on duty. Our community owes a debt of gratitude to this officer who ultimately gave his life protecting and serving our city."
She added, "We ask that you keep the officer's family, and the officers of the RPD in your thoughts and prayers as they, and our community as a whole, mourn this tragic loss."
Rochester Mayor Lovely A. Warren also reportedly asked for prayers from the community, especially for the family of the Rochester officer killed.
Warren said, "Words simply cannot express the sense of sorrow and deep loss that we feel at this moment. A family has lost a loved one. The men and women of our police department have lost a family member and a friend."
"And we the people of Rochester have lost someone, who like every other RPD officer, put their life on the line day after day, for us," she said.
A spokesperson from Rural/Metro Medical Services said two others from the shooting at the Hudson Avenue and Bauman Street area were transported via ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital.
Deputy Mayor Len Redon said one of the two people was an innocent bystander. Police said the bystander's injuries were non-life threatening.
"The mayor was concerned because there was an innocent bystander that was involved in the shooting and she wanted to make sure that that person knew the city cared about what they were going through and that we would stand beside them," Redon said.
The identification of the Rochester officer killed identification has not been released to the public, pending notification of family.
According to the AP, police also haven't released yet names of the suspect or bystander.
Rochester officer killed was addressed during a news conference where dozens of police officers met with the mayor and police chief at Rochester's public safety building. According to the CBS News, before the conference began, some were seen in tears.
RPD members hug at RGH, officer shot #dandcpix #ROC pic.twitter.com/PVmlctVPxb
— Carlos Ortiz (@cfortiz_dandc) September 4, 2014
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