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Philadelphia officer begins recovery at home after 12 gunshot wounds
Officer Hector Rodriguez was released from Penn Presbyterian Medical Center on Saturday, two weeks after he was shot while responding to a call in West Philadelphia. The shooting also killed Sgt. Shane Seiber, whose department and family honored him this week.
PHILADELPHIA — Officer Hector Rodriguez left Penn Presbyterian Medical Center on Saturday to continue a long recovery, two weeks after being shot 12 times while responding to a call in West Philadelphia, police said.
The 33-year-old was wheeled from the hospital to applause from fellow officers, medical staff and loved ones. He placed a hand over his heart as he greeted the gathering.
First Deputy Commissioner John Stanford called Rodriguez’s release a joyful moment, while warning that recovery will take time. He said the department would support the officer throughout the process.
Sgt. Shane Seiber was also shot in the Oct. 10 incident and died. Seiber, 40, was a father of two and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 10 years after completing two tours in Iraq with the U.S. Air Force.
Hundreds of people gathered Tuesday to pay tribute to Seiber before he was laid to rest. His widow, Lisa, received his Medal of Honor and Purple Heart. Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the honors could not replace Seiber for his family, but hoped his children would later understand the respect their father had earned.
Stanford described the past two weeks as an emotional period for department members and thanked people in Philadelphia and across the country for supporting the officers’ families.