A Cicero police officer is currently recuperating in the hospital following a shooting incident that took place early Saturday morning. According to Cicero Police Superintendent Thomas Boyle, the shooting occurred just before 1 a.m. near the intersection of 35th Street and 61st Court. The officers were responding to a vehicle reportedly illegally double-parked when they were met with gunfire from a suspect, in a statement obtained by WGN-TV.
The injured officer, a 29-year-old man with nearly five years of service, sustained a serious gunshot wound to his back. He was swiftly transported to Loyola Hospital, where he is listed in "serious but stable condition," officials said. His partner did not sustain any injuries during the incident. "This violent act underscores the dangers faced by law enforcement officers every day while they work to protect the community," Boyle further emphasized, as per WGN-TV.
Cicero's spokesperson Ray Hanania clarified that the two officers involved were part of the department's Special Operations division and were donning civilian attire during the operation, as reported by NBC Chicago. Following the shooting, other responding officers managed to quickly detain two individuals who were allegedly attempting to escape the site of the incident. However, the exact connection between these individuals and the shooting has yet to be fully ascertained. The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Cicero police and the West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force (WESTAF).
