Crime & Safety
Bucks County Officer Shot; Vest Stopped Bullet
A Chalfont police officer was shot early Monday morning. Authorities are continuing to look for the shooter.
Police from around the region are searching for multiple suspects who are accused of shooting Chalfont Borough police Officer Jon Cousin in the chest shortly after 3 a.m. Monday.
The shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Lenape Valley Swim Club in the 100 block of Westview Avenue, according to police scanner reports.
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Police said the officer was wearing a bullet-proof vest when he was shot in the chest. The officer was taken to Abington Memorial Hospital for treatment and released by morning, a hospital spokeswoman said.
The officer was investigating a suspicious car in the swim club parking lot when he was rushed by one subject and shot by another, Chalfont Chief Frank Campbell told CBS 3. The car reportedly had no license plate, Fox 29 journalist Steve Keely tweeted.
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Philly.com reports Cousin's bullet-proof vest absorbed the impact of the bullet and saved his life.
Authorities are searching for a older-model maroon Oldsmobile Cutlass and the three people who were in it. The car is believed have a college decal on the back and damage to the rear bumper, police dispatch reported. The car was last seen headed on Route 309, WFMZ-TV reported.
Authorities searched the area for the car and set up checkpoints in the area before sunrise, but did not locate the car or suspects.
In early-morning images posted on GunCrisis.org, patrol officers armed with rifles can be seen in the area of the shooting. Nearby, investigators can be seen checking the ground for evidence.
Police activity stemming from the incident caused delays on the SEPTA line that runs through Chalfont, SEPTA said.
Police, SWAT and K9 officers from multiple departments, including Dolyestown, Newtown, Northampton, Lower Southampton, Warrington, Warminster, Upper Southampton and several others, respond and assisted Chalfont officers.
The Philadelphia Police Department and New Jersey State Police helicopters were alerted of the incident, but it is not clear whether they responded to the scene.
This is a developing story. We will update this post as Patch receives more information.
