Published January 31st, 2024
An officer with the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Police Department was shot Wednesday morning. At approximately 6 a.m. Wednesday, officers with the narcotics unit of the Philadelphia Police Department were serving a series of narcotics-related warrants across the city. At one location near Market and 12th Streets, as a team of officers were entering a residence, they breached the first door when an occupant opened fire from behind a second door, striking one of the officers in the ballistic-resistant vest he was wearing. The bullet ricocheted off his vest and he was struck in his hand. After a short barricade situation, an individual was taken into custody.
At a press conference later that day, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the officer—a 33-year veteran of the Department, 15 of which were with the narcotics unit, was treated at a local hospital and released, and “is going to be fine”. Commissioner Bethel stated that officers with the narcotics unit recently received new ballistic-resistant vests, and that the vest “likely saved the officer’s life.” The investigation into this shooting is ongoing.
