Middletown City Police Officer shot

[ace84 100]

Middletown City Police Officer shot on Wawayanda Avenue

July 24, 2007

Middletown — A Middletown city police officer was shot on Wawayanda Avenue this afternoon and police have one man in custody.

Middletown police Lt. Paul Rickard said that a police officer had been shot "a couple of times." A photographer for the Times Herald-Record witnessed the officer being worked on by medics about 4:30 p.m. His condition is thought to be extremely serious and he was being transported to the Horton campus of Orange Regional Medical Center.

The shooting happened outside a home at 308 Wawayanda Ave. Reports over the police scanner said that police responded to a domestic dispute involving a man, a woman and a baby. After the police officer was shot, the woman fled the home and the man called 911 offering to surrender, according to scanner reports.

Police have shut down Wawayanda Avenue south of County Route 78.

A state police helicopter is circling over the scene. There has been a massive police response, with a state police tactical unit, Orange County Sheriff's Deputies, Orange County Sheriffs ESU Team, Town of Wallkill police, Middletown police and numerous other units on the scene.

[ace84 100]

update

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/.../NEWS/707240349

[201/65 94]

7 p.m. Update via www.recordonline.com

Middletown police officer, shot twice, in stable condition

Middletown — 7 p.m. -- A Middletown city police officer shot twice this afternoon on Wawayanda Avenue responding to a domestic dispute is in stable condition at this hour. Police have one man in custody. Officer Christopher Dolan, 22, of Bullville, who joined the city force in August 2006, was shot twice -- once in the left arm and once in the left side of the hip, according to police Chief Matt Byrne. He was wearing his bulletproof vest at the time, Byrne said.

Dolan was surrounded by family members at the Horton campus of Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown. Dolan, who is single and a lifelong Orange County resident, began working alone on patrol about one month ago.

Byrne said the shooting happened like this: Dolan and other officers were responding to a report of a domestic dispute involving a man with a knife at 317 Wawayanda Ave. around 4:18 p.m. Dolan came under fire and other officers rescued him from the scene.

A neighbor said he heard three shots and then saw a man come out on the deck holding a toddler in one hand and a gun in the other hand. Then he saw police taking out Dolan, who had been wounded.

A suspect, described by police only as the husband in the domestic dispute, retreated to the house for a short period of time. Middletown’s tactical team, which happened to be training today, made contact with the suspect, who surrendered within minutes, Byrne said.

The neighbor said the couple who lived at the home had two children, ages 9 and 2. Apparently the 9-year-old was not at home at the time of the shooting. Police would not say more about the suspect, other than it was a husband and wife domestic dispute.

Byrne described Dolan as “soft-spoken, well-mannered and somewhat reserved.”

Police shut down Wawayanda Avenue south of County Route 78. A state police helicopter was circling over the scene. There was a massive police response, with a state police tactical unit, Orange County sheriff’s deputies, Town of Wallkill police, Middletown police and numerous other units on the scene.

Check back later for updates.

[DOC22 1]

Thoughts and prayers to PO Dolan for a full and speedy recovery. And I hope they throw the book at the perp.

[RescueKujo 130]

Thoughts and prayers to the officer and family. Too bad a little street justice wasn't able to be handed out.

[ace84 100]

July 24, 2007

Middletown — 9:40p.m. -- A suspect in this afternoon's shooting of a Middletown police officer fired twice through a door and an officer returned fire, police disclosed tonight. Officer Christopher Dolan, 22, was shot twice -- once in the left arm and once in the left side of the hip when he responded to a domestic dispute at 317 Wawayanda Ave. around 4:18 p.m.

After suspect Raymond Zayas fired, another officer, Frank Speranza, fired back twice. He did not hit Zayas.

Zayas, 34, was arraigned tonight on a charge of first-degree attempted murder. Zayas, who was on probation for felony attempted assault, was sent to Orange County Jail without bail. He complained of a wrist injury, however, and was being taken to a hospital for medical attention.

Dolan, 22, who joined the force in August 2006, was reported in stable condition. He was surrounded by family members at the Horton campus of Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown. Dolan, who is single and a lifelong Orange County resident, began working alone on patrol about one month ago.

Byrne said the shooting happened like this: Dolan and other officers were responding to a report of a domestic dispute involving a man with a knife at 317 Wawayanda Ave. around 4:18 p.m. Dolan came under fire and other officers rescued him from the scene.

A neighbor said he heard three shots and then saw a man come out on the deck holding a toddler in one hand and a gun in the other hand. However, police disputed this account tonight and said that Zayas appeared only with the 1-year-old baby in hand, not with a gun.

Middletown’s tactical team, which happened to be training today, made contact with the suspect, who surrendered within minutes, Byrne said. Police credited Officer Jason Jennings with talking Zayas into releasing the baby.

Byrne described Dolan as “soft-spoken, well-mannered and somewhat reserved.”

Police shut down Wawayanda Avenue south of County Route 78. A state police helicopter was circling over the scene. There was a massive police response, with a state police tactical unit, Orange County's

Sheriff’s Deputies, Town of Wallkill Police, Middletown Police and numerous other units on the scene.

Check back later for updates.

[trauma74 111]

The Orange County DA will probably just let him off with a menacing charge.

About 9 years ago when I dispatching for the Village of Monroe PD, we had a hostage situation where a guy threatened to kill his own son and any officer who tried to get close to him. He fired numerous assault weapons at officers who were out in front of his residence. In the end they talked him out of the situation.

He was charged with multiple crimes including attempted homicide of a police officer. When he went to court they made him a deal and he plead guilty to a menacing charge!

[ace84 100]

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...70724013/0/NEWS

[SgtGumby311 0]

Another one walking the streets that should'nt have been. When are the judges and lawyers going to be held accountable? These plea deals do nothing except endanger the lives of the rest of us. Prayers to Officer Dolan for a speedy recovery.

[PATROL224 0]

Best wishes to PO Dolan for a full recovery. I hope the attempted murder charge will stick, and this piece of crap will be taught a lesson!! This just goes to Highlight once again the DANGERS of Domestic Disputes and Traffic Stops especially due to the recent tragedies.

[John107 0]

Prayers are with Officer Dolan on a speedy recovery!!