NYPD Officer Shot On Staten Island Released From Hospital
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – The NYPD officer shot in the wrist Tuesday on Staten Island was released from the hospital Wednesday.
Officer Vanesa Medina was wounded while trying to arrest a domestic assault suspect in Stapleton.
She got a hero's reception leaving Richmond University Medical Center, her arm in a cast. Outside, dozens of New York's Finest applauded her bravery just one day after she was shot in the line of duty.
Watch: NYPD Officer Leaves Hospital
Chief of Department Terence Monahan was there to give her a more-than-deserved pat on the back.
"Isn't that a great feeling. One day after being shot, to be able to stand here in the community, the cops of Staten Island, together as she walks out of this hospital safe," Monahan said.
Officer Medina waved as she passed through her fellow officers.
Tuesday morning, 30-year-old Medina, a member of the force for nearly four years, was with her partner and two other officers from the 120th precinct.
They were apprehending domestic assault suspect Gregory Edwards, 39, when he pulled out a gun.
Police say Medina grabbed the suspect.
"Saw that gun. Grab the arm. Pushed it up. Why does she push it up? Because you don't want anybody getting shot. Not just herself. But her instinct was to protect those around her," said PBA President Pat Lynch.
WATCH: Mayor, Police Commissioner, PBA On Staten Island Shooting
Edwards fired twice. Another officer fired three times. Edwards was shot and killed.
One bullet hit Medina's hand.
Dr. Biagio Pacifico performed the surgery to reconstruct it.
"She had a very significant loss of bone in one of the metacarpals of the hand from the impact of the bullet, which required plates and screws and some bone grafting," he said.
It's the result of the risk police officers take on the job every day.
"She saved multiple lives," Lynch said.
Doctors say Officer Medina has a long road of physical therapy ahead of her, but they say she is relieved it wasn't her dominant hand that was injured and that she was able to walk away with her life.
