Bay City Public Safety officer Brandon Murphy was shot in the thigh and wounded his assailant while returning fire Monday, Feb. 2, according to police.

Update: Wounded police officer discharged from hospital.

BAY CITY, MI -- A Bay City police officer is recovering after being shot in the line of duty.

Bay City Public Safety Director Michael J. Cecchini said that Officer Brandon Murphy and another officer responded to a call of a home invasion in the 1600 block of Third Street at 1:28 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 2. A young male from Bay County had entered the home and awoken a female resident. The resident confronted the burglar, who then left the house, Cecchini said.

As one officer stayed at the scene, Murphy tracked fresh footprints in the snow to the 1600 block of Fourth Street, Cecchini said. Murphy saw the suspect, who ignored the officer's commands, the director said.

The suspect proceeded to pull a handgun and fired, striking Murphy in the left thigh. Murphy returned fire and struck his assailant several times.

The shooting itself occurred about 1:36 a.m., the director said.

Responding medical personnel rendered aid to both Murphy and the suspect and transported them to McLaren Bay Region hospital, 1900 Columbus Ave. on Bay City's East Side. As of 8:30 a.m., Murphy is in good condition and the suspect is in critical condition, Cecchini said.

Murphy has been with the department for 14 years.

"He's a highly decorated officer and he, in my opinion, performed admirably in a very stressful situation," Cecchini said. "He was shot and he was able to stay composed and return fire to an individual who was trying to cause great harm to him. I believe all of his training and officer survival skills kicked in to have him respond to that threat the way he did. I'm very happy that he's going to be OK."

Michigan State Police personnel are currently investigating the matter, as is standard for any officer-involved shooting. The Bay City Public Safety Department is to conduct a separate administrative investigation to make sure no policies were violated in the incident, Cecchini said.

Murphy is to be on administrative leave until all the facts are in and both investigations are complete.

"Had he not been injured, he would be off until he was comfortable coming back to the street and also until we knew definitively the shooting was within policy and the law," Cecchini said.

This is the first time a Bay City police officer has been shot in the line of duty in Bay City since officers Raymond P. Rexer and Terry J. Jablonski were shot and killed on April 26, 1991. Current Bay City Public Safety Deputy Director Thomas A. Pletzke was shot in the left foot while serving with the Bay City SWAT Team on April 21, 1993. He and other officers were attempting to gain access to a Saginaw home at the time.

"Bay City's a safe town," Cecchini said. "We don't deal with major city violence, but this just (illustrates) the inherent dangers that law enforcement faces, even in Bay City.

"I'm just happy that Officer Murphy is going to be OK."