Oct. 20--An officer was bruised but okay Saturday after he was shot in his ballistic vest during a Friday night exchange of gunfire with a man who is still at large, Nicholasville police said.
Officer John Rainey, who has been with the department 16 years, suffered severe bruising in the back where he was struck, said Nicholasville police Sgt. Scott Harvey.
"The vest stopped the round. The vest did its job," Harvey said. Harvey said multiple shots were fired at Rainey "but only one round hit him."
Rainey was treated at St. Joseph Jessamine, an ambulatory care center in Nicholasville, and released, Harvey said. Rainey's injury was limited to "pretty severe bruising," Harvey said.
"It's a really hard hit, as you can imagine," he said.
Police said it was unclear whether the suspect was hit by Rainey's fire. Shortly after 8 p.m. Friday, Rainey saw a man duck in between two houses on Maple Leaf Drive, Harvey said.
Rainey got out of his cruiser and went behind a house where he had seen the man. The man fired several shots and one struck Rainey in the back of his bullet-resistant vest, Harvey said. Rainey returned fire.
Other officers arrived and searched the area for the suspect. A Lexington police helicopter also assisted in the search.
The suspect had not been located as of 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Harvey said. The only description police have of the man is that he wore dark-colored clothing.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Nicholasville police at (859) 887-5447.
Greg Kocher: (859) 231-3305. Twitter: @HLpublicsafety
Copyright 2012 - Lexington Herald-Leader
