Cop Shot in Head, Fights for Life

Paterson visit victim in hospital

A Rochester police officer who was shot in the back of the head Saturday has suffered severe brain injury, a doctor said.

“We have many miles to go,'' said neurosurgeon Dr. Paul Maurer.

“I'll cautiously say that so far we are ahead of where I might have anticipated,'' he added.

The injured officer and three others, who were responding to a complaint of drug activity late Saturday, Police Chief David Moore said.

The officers questioned a group of people on the street but found no reason to make arrests and as they turned to walk away from the group, shots were fired, Moore said.

Investigators weren't sure whether the shots came from that group or from farther away, Moore said. No arrests have been made, Moore said.

“Whoever fired the gun this afternoon deserves to be in the ICU (intensive care unit), not that brave officer,'' said Gov. David Paterson, who was in Rochester to meet with U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and community leaders and went to the hospital after he heard about the shooting.

He said in a statement later Saturday that he had met with the officer's family and could “testify to this officer's courage and strength.''

Mayor Robert Duffy said the officer's father is a veteran member of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and called the attack unprovoked.

“I can't think of anything more cowardly than what happened here,'' he said.

As Paterson, Duffy and other officials talked to reporters at the hospital, police blocked streets and scoured the neighborhood around the shooting site, trying to figure out where the bullets came from. They had made no arrests.

State police were joining the investigation, Paterson said.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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