Two Rochester police officers were shot Thursday evening in an ambush incident on Bauman Street. One of the two police veterans has died of his injuries.
Police Lt. Greg Bello says both officers were working on a detail in plainclothes when a man approached and opened fire on them. Sources say at least one officer was able to return fire.
The officer shot and killed was a 29-year veteran of the force, identified by Chief David Smith as Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz. He was shot at least once in the upper body. His partner, Officer Sino Seng, was shot at least once in the lower body. Officer Seng, is now at home after being treated and released. A female bystander was also struck by gunfire and has been treated for her injuries.
Chief Smith says the full force of area law enforcement responded including suburban departments, state police and U.S. Marshals. This same force is being used to bring the person responsible to justice. The chief did not take questions, but limited himself to a written statement.
Mayor Malik Evans called it “a sad day for our community” and a “nightmare for any family, punctuated even harder when that person is a police officer.” He says the officers were trying to combat the carnage on the streets that he and the chief have been condemning for months. He says Mazerkowitz could have retired, but chose to go on the streets because he didn’t want neighborhoods to be held hostage by cowards who hold the community hostage. Evans said he’s angry and upset at the blatant disregard for life shown by these men. He called for patience as police work to uncover the facts, and said now is the time for anyone who knows anything to come forward. He said “tomorrow it could be you.”
This officer death comes not quite eight years after the last death of an officer in the line of duty, Officer Daryl Pierson, who was fatally shot while chasing a suspect on Hudson Avenue in September of 2014. It also comes about 12 hours after Mayor Evans declared a gun violence emergency in Rochester.