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The officer’s police radio call for help made no mention that she had shot herself, and in turn, sparked a ground and helicopter search for a so-called gunman on the loose.

The massive police search, which included two forces and overtime expenses, failed to capture any gunman. The police search also failed to find a weapon at or near the scene. and police failed to identify any gunman after questioning 30 people who attended the bush party.

Police did not cordon off the area as a crime scene, a routine procedure even for domestic calls not involving guns.

The officer is still in hospital awaiting minor surgery, according to Gatineau Police officer Pierre Lanthier.

Lanthier said the wounded officer is still in “shock” and not yet ready to be interviewed about what happened. The police said Tuesday that they could not yet “confirm or deny” if the young officer shot herself and prompted an unwarranted search for a gunman that didn’t exist.

When asked how the theory of the officer shooting herself was raised, Lanthier told the Citizen that the working theory was raised “after all the statements we got from police and witnesses.”

We’re looking at the possibility that she probably did that to herself

“We’re looking at the possibility that she probably did that to herself,” the officer told the Citizen.

The shooting happened in a wooded area near the Gatineau River, a popular spot for bush parties in Gatineau.

The police dispatched several cruisers to the scene after an unconfirmed complaint that a young man at the party had a gun.

That gun was never found, and police are no longer searching for any alleged gunman.

Meanwhile, the wounded officer remains in hospital surrounded by friends, family and colleagues while she awaits minor surgery, according to police.

The police have yet to publicly detail the shooting but say they will publicly announce if it was a self-inflicted wound or not once they fully investigate the shooting.