Memphis police officer shot and critically injured by "friendly" fire www.privateofficer.com

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Memphis TN Nov 11 2012 A Memphispolice officer was shot and critically injured Thursday afternoon by a secondofficer who was aiming at a dog, officials said Thursday afternoon.
Willie Bryant, a 32-year-old member of the Organized CrimeUnit, was taken to the Regional Medical Centerat Memphis instable condition, but was later downgraded to critical. He was taken intosurgery Thursday afternoon, Memphis Police Department Director Toney Armstrongsaid.
The incident began about 12:45 p.m. at 589 Arrington nearThomas in North Memphis. Amulti-jurisdictional gang unit task force was serving a warrant at thatlocation.
When police entered the home, two dogs — a pit bull and aCane Corso — were inside, according to James Rogers administrator MemphisAnimal Services. The Corso was loose and the pit bull was in a kennel.
According to police, the loose dog charged, leading theofficer to fire his weapon. The shot missed the dog and hit Bryant — who waswearing a protective vest — in the back.
Bryant, who has been on the force for nine years, was rushedby ambulance to The Med, accompanied by a police escort. Officers blocked offcity streets for the ambulance, then swarmed The Med in a show of support.
Police cordoned off the area surrounding Arrington at DannyThomas, where more than two dozen MPD units responded. Officers directedmotorists around the scene as a cluster of investigators gathered outside thehouse in an empty lot. Across the street on Thomas, groups of neighbors andother bystanders watched as MPD personnel and news crews surveyed the area.
Animal control found two more Cane Corsos in the backyard,as well as a dozen fish inside the house. Memphis Animal Services took all fourdogs.
Police released no other details about the incident,including the name, age or length of service of the officer who shot Bryant.They also did not say whether there were any people in the home, but no oneelse was injured.
The last shooting that wounded a police officer came inApril, when an officer and a carjacking suspect shot each other after a briefstruggle near Raleigh.That officer, 30-year-old Josh Shearer, was wearing a protective vest andwasn't seriously injured.
On July 3, 2011, MPD officer Tim Warren was shot and killedin a Downtown hotel. Alexander Haydel was charged with first-degree murder inthe death of Warren, 39, and another man in that incident.
Source:Memphis Commercial Appeal