ALBANY — A State Police veteran is expected to survive a vicious, unprovoked attack by a man who authorities say pulled out a steak knife mid-conversation Sunday afternoon at the Empire State Plaza and stabbed the trooper in the neck.

Rodney Smith, who's been on the force for 15 years, underwent surgery at Albany Medical Center Hospital and was in stable condition as of late Sunday night. State Police Superintendent Joseph D'Amico said Smith is expected to make a full recovery.

The man troopers say stabbed Smith was still at large late Sunday.

Troopers said the suspect took Smith's police radio after the 3:30 p.m. attack in the Plaza's concourse, but that Smith was able to use a cellphone to report the stabbing.

"Our troopers can find themselves in dangerous and sometimes life-threatening situations on any given day," D'Amico said in news release. "Fortunately, Trooper Smith is expected to make a full recovery. ... In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are with Trooper Smith's family."

Around 3:15 p.m., the suspect first approached Smith, who was on routine patrol in the concourse, and started talking with the trooper about being new to Albany and not knowing anyone in the area, Trooper Mark Cepiel, a State Police spokesman, said.

As Smith checked the suspect's identification, the man pulled out a knife and stabbed Smith in the left side of his neck, Cepiel said.

Smith and the man then fought, and Smith was stabbed in the right side of his neck and his face, Cepiel said. The assailant managed to then grab Smith's radio and run away as the trooper called for help.

The stabbing occurred just past the Plaza's Madison Avenue entrance, across the street from the State Museum. Hours after the attack, a small pool of blood and a trooper's hat could still be seen through the concourse's glass doors.

All afternoon, the scene around the plaza was bustling with troopers and Albany police as both scoured the area for evidence. Cops looked under every car parked along Madison Avenue, dug through garbage cans and picked through bushes.

The concourse was closed Sunday afternoon and night.

A source familiar with the stabbing said Smith "got lucky" as the knife-wielding man missed the trooper's arteries and windpipe. State Police and the Albany Police Department are both searching for the suspect and ask that anyone who may have seen him fleeing the scene or has knowledge of the incident to call the State Police at 518-473-5164.

Both Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings and Gov. Andrew Cuomo visited Smith at Albany Med.

"(Cuomo) tonight visited stabbed NY State Trooper in the hospital," Josh Vlasto, the governor's chief of staff wrote on Twitter Sunday night. "Trooper is in stable condition and injuries are not life- threatening."

Staff Writer Jimmy Vielkind contributed to this story. bfitzgerald@timesunion.com • 518-454-5414 • @BFitzgeraldTU