Phoenix police officer shot near 35th Avenue and Baseline Road; 2 suspects in custody

A Phoenix police officer was taken to the hospital after being shot while on duty Tuesday near 35th Avenue and Baseline Road.

At least two people were in custody, police said. Additional information regarding the shooting, what led to it or when police were called to the scene was not released to the public by police.

“I stand before you today, another sad day for our department and our city as yet another Phoenix police officer has been shot in the line of duty,” Phoenix police Executive Assistant Chief Michael Kurtenbach said at a news conference following the shooting.

The officer was shot multiple times, but she is in stable condition at Banner Health, likely in part due to the bulletproof vest she was wearing, Kurtenbach said. The officer, who was not identified, has served with the Police Department for 19 years.

“These are people who go out every single day to protect us,” said interim Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, who also spoke at the news conference. She went on to say that those who harm police officers "will be held accountable.”

Phoenix City Councilmember Anne O’Brien also expressed anger about the recent shooting.

“Every day — moms, dads, daughters, sons — they choose to put on a Phoenix police officer uniform, pin a badge to their chest and then choose to go out and protect us," O’Brien said.

Darrell Kriplean, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, reacted to the shooting and said the community needs to demand action to reduce attacks on police officers.

"We are angry and frustrated to learn about yet another officer attacked by a cowardly criminal with murderous intentions in Phoenix today. ... Unfortunately, there are risks associated with this type of work, and today is another reminder of the sacrifices made each day by our officers," Kriplean said. "The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association will continue to keep the officer and their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers, and hope for a quick recovery."

O’Brien noted during the news conference a trend in attacks against police officers, saying that in the past six months, this shooting marks the sixth surprise attack on an officer and the 14th officer shot or injured.

Kurtenbach said there has been a 24% increase in homicides between this summer and last summer, and a 45% increase in homicides involving firearms. He said police are working with local, state and federal partners to address the rise in violent crime.

'It's scary right now, it truly is': Phoenix police officers facing more attacks, data shows

Phoenix police Chief Jeri Williams testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Gun Violence on the same day this shooting occurred.

“We respect the rights of those that own firearms legally, but we have to address this crime that is plaguing our officers and our city,” Kurtenbach said.

9th Phoenix police officer shot in 6 months

Data from the Phoenix Police Department showed an over 30% increase in officer assaults between 2017 and 2021, according to an analysis by The Arizona Republic. Officers across the state also saw a slight increase in assaults between 2017 and 2020, data from the FBI showed.

Tuesday’s shooting marked the ninth Phoenix police officer shot and 14th injured in the last six months, according to statistics the Phoenix Police Department had previously provided to news organizations.

The total includes a February incident that resulted in the most officer injuries to occur in a single incident at the Police Department, officials previously said. Five Phoenix police officers were shot and another four were injured by bullet shrapnel during that incident described by officials as an ambush turned barricade.

It’s unclear how many law enforcement officers have been injured in shootings statewide so far this year.

Only one Arizona police officer has died in the line of duty this year. White Mountain Apache police Officer Adrian Lopez Sr. was shot and killed on June 2 while attempting a traffic stop on tribal land in Whiteriver.

At least 34 people have been shot at by Arizona police officers as of May 31, according to data tracked and analyzed by The Republic. Phoenix police accounted for at least 12 of those shootings, the data showed.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Reach breaking news reporter Angela Cordoba Perez at Angela.CordobaPerez@Gannett.com or on Twitter @AngelaCordobaP.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix police officer shot near 35th Avenue and Baseline Road