Retired Greenburgh Police Officer Shot After Interrupting Attempted Burglary
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A retired Greenburgh police officer was shot twice and injured when he reportedly interrupted an attempted burglary at a residence Monday afternoon, police sources said.
Nightfall did not slow down detectives who were still investigating the scene in Westchester County.
"It's really sad. It's extremely sad," Jenna Fanelli said.
As Joe Biermann reported from Chopper 2, the incident happened around 3:45 p.m. Police sources said the retired Greenburgh officer lives on Knollwood Road in the village of Elmsford within the town of Greenburgh, and spotted two men breaking into a neighbor's house.
The officer was identified as Peter Schmidt by Greenburgh Chief of Police Chris T. McNerney. McNerney said Schmidt, who went to investigate, encountered two apparent burglars walking from behind a residence on Payne Street.
Retired Greenburgh Police Officer Shot After Interrupting Attempted Burglary
Schmidt, who lives in the neighborhood, was watching the neighbor's home at the time and knew it was not occupied.
As CBS2's Valerie Castro reported, the retired officer confronted the men and was shot twice – once in the arm, and once in the torso, McNerney said. His condition was reported to be stable at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, sources said.
Town Supervisor Paul Feiner said the retired officer's injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.
Retired Greenburgh Police Officer Shot After Interrupting Attempted Burglary
Schmidt's son, active Greenburgh police Officer Peter Schmidt Jr., was off-duty but arrived on the scene and reportedly saw the suspects leaving the scene in a blue BMW, 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported.
"Officer Schmidt immediately relayed this information and the license plate number to the Greenburgh police headquarters, while requesting medical assistance for his father," McNerney said.
Within minutes, the City of Yonkers Police Department advised that they had the vehicle stopped on the Sprain Brook Parkway in the area of the Cross County Parkway. The subjects were positively identified and placed under arrest.
The gun was not recovered, WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported.
The identities of the men arrested have not been released.
Retired Greenburgh Police Officer Shot After Interrupting Attempted Burglary
"I don't have much information on the suspects at this time. I believe that one lives locally in the Greenburgh area," McNerney said.
Following the shooting Schmidt's home was surrounded with crime scene tape.
Later in the evening, what appeared to be family members consoled each other in front of the home.
Neighbors said Schmidt has always looked out for them.
"He's a really nice man, he's always around the neighborhood, always talking to everybody making sure everyone's OK," Fanelli said.
In this case they're sure he was just trying to be the right thing.
