Long Branch Police Officer Assaulted, Left For Dead Behind Abandoned Building

LONG BRANCH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A $20,000 reward is being offered to find the people who assaulted and left a Long Branch, New Jersey, police officer for dead.

CBS2's Jessica Moore reported Long Branch Officer Mike Monahan, a 12-year veteran of the force, was attacked around 2 a.m. on Tuesday.

Police said Monahan saw people waving flashlights inside an abandoned property. When he got out of his patrol car, they started running.

Monahan followed the suspects, and within seconds, he's knocked in the back of the head and left unconscious.

When Monahan didn't respond to radio calls, police sent back up.

Other officers found him behind the abandoned building near Westwood and Bath avenues.

Long Branch residents were shocked at the news.

"I was very upset about the policeman," said Maire Sweeney. "It was just terrible."

The New Jersey Policemen's Benevolent Association is stepping in to find the suspects who left Monahan for dead.

"The immediate reaction is there are no witnesses, so that's the reason for the reward, to get someone who knows something," said PBA President Pat Colligan.

Colligan said they're so committed to finding Monahan's attacker that they will give the $20,000 reward to anyone.

"If one of the other thugs would like to come forward and the information leads to the arrest of the suspect, we'll write the check to literally anybody," Colligan explained.

Monahan was released from the hospital Wednesday night and is expected to make a full recovery.