The Daily Journal

BRIDGETON – Someone fired a gunshot at two Bridgeton police officer while they were responding to a burglary call early Wednesday morning at a North Street duplex.

No one was injured in the incident, which the second time in two days that gunshots have been fired at South Jersey police officers.

The gunshot was fired as the officers were walking on the sidewalk in front of the duplex.

"The officers quickly took cover and then conducted a brief search," Police Chief Mark W. Ott said. "The officers then set a perimeter around the block bordered by Lanning Street, Cohansey Street, North Street and Nichols Street." State troopers from three South Jersey stations also responded, including K9s.

Police made no arrests and declined to comment on what evidence they may have recovered.

Ott said the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association has offered a $20,000 award for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the firing on the officers.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 856-451-0033, ext. 0, or come to the police station at 330 Fayette St. and ask for Detective Lt. James Battavio or Detective Sgt. Anthony Calabrese.

The incident happens just one day after an early morning drive-by shooting in Gloucester County left the West Deptford police station riddled with bullets; no officers were injured in that incident.

Six bullets hit the outside of the building and the seventh went through the window of the deputy chief's office. No one was hurt, and a $25,750 reward was offered in that case.