A bulletproof vest recently introduced to the narcotics unit may have saved a police officer from serious injury or death when he was struck by gunfire Wednesday morning in North Philadelphia, Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said.
Just after 6 a.m., the unit was serving a warrant at a house on the 1300 block of Kings Place in the Yorktown neighborhood when someone inside fired a shot through the door, according to authorities. Bethel said police believe the bullet ricocheted off the vest and hit the officer in the hand.
The officer, a longtime PPD veteran who has not been publicly identified, was taken to Jefferson University Hospital, where he was treated and released within two hours.
The individuals inside the property surrendered following a brief standoff, authorities said. Police did not return fire, according to Bethel.
“It could have been much worse,” Mayor Cherelle Parker told reporters outside the hospital. “He and his family are in our thoughts and prayers.”
Bethel said the narcotics team was outfitted seven months ago with new helmets and ballistic vests to be placed over their existing armor. “We believe that played a significant role,” he added.
Following the shooting, officers barricaded the property, and one person was arrested and another was detained, officials said. No further information about them was released.
Police also did not specify the details of the warrant. Bethel said he was not sure whether the narcotics team knocked on the door of the home, though he added that there were multiple marked patrol cars stationed around the house. PPD policy requires officers to knock and announce their presence when serving a warrant in most circumstances.
Parker noted that the incident represents the second time a police officer has been shot since she took office Jan. 2.
Last Friday, an officer was shot in his leg while he and his partner were engaged in a struggle with 28-year-old Alexander Spencer inside a Fairhill corner store. In that instance, one of the officers, Raheem Hall, fatally shot Spencer. Authorities released surveillance video showing the exchange Tuesday.
“Our police officers are on the front lines of our city every day and every night putting their lives on the line to protect and serve us,” Parker said. “This is another reminder of the senseless and all-too-present gun violence here in the city of Philadelphia.”
“Let me be clear, no matter how frustrating these two incidents that we’ve experienced thus far, there is nothing that will get in the way of us all working together as a team to make our city safe,” she added.
