DETROIT (Reuters) - A gunman opened fire inside a Detroit police station on Sunday, wounding four police officers, including a commander, before the attacker was shot and killed, Police Chief Ralph Godbee said.

A Detroit police officer stands outside the 6th precinct Northwestern District police station in Detroit, Michigan January 23, 2011. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook

The precise circumstances of the attack remained sketchy, but the chief, speaking at a news conference, said the most seriously wounded of the officers was a commander who was shot in the lower back.

However, Godbee said, the commander emerged from surgery with a favorable prognosis, “and we’re very encouraged by the doctor’s report.”

“As a department, we’re just very sobered by the events, but very relieved that it appears to be that all of our officers are going to be OK,” Godbee told reporters.

In addition to the commander, one police sergeant was struck by gunfire in the chest, but her bullet-resistant vest “deflected any major injury,” and she was released from the hospital after treatment, Godbee said.

Two other officers, including a second sergeant, suffered graze wounds to the head, but both men were conscious, alert and talking, and were expected to fully recover, he said.

Police returned fire and the gunman was shot dead, Godbee said. He said it was too soon to characterize the gunman’s motives.

Police said they have identified the shooter, but would only publicly say that he was a 35-year-old black male.

“We have closed the 6th and 8th precinct to ensure the safety of our officers. It is an active crime scene and our investigation is ongoing,” said Sergeant Erin Stephens, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Police Department.

Godbee said that in light of Sunday’s incident, and the shooting rampage two weeks ago that left six dead in Tucson, Arizona, his department would be reassessing its security procedures.