The Albany police officer who was shot in the upper leg during a traffic stop and had to undergo surgery was discharged from Albany Medical Center on Wednesday after recovering for over a week in the hospital.
Officer Jonathan Damphier was released from the Albany hospita at around 3 p.m. Officers surrounded him and applauded as he was wheeled out. He left in an ambulance with a police escort, and reportedly faces a long rehabilitation.
Damphier was seriously wounded around 12:30 a.m. April 17, when stopped a car operating at a high rate of speed in the area of North Main and Western avenues. As he approached the vehicle, Amiel Layeni, 28, of Albany, immediately fired two shots and struck Damphier, Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins said.
Damphier also returned fire in the incident after being wounded. Layeni died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police.
Damphier was hired by the APD in February 2021.
