Off-Duty Police officer shot during scuffle with fellow officers trying to give her restraining order

An off-duty Massachusetts, USA police officer was shot and wounded during a confrontation with fellow officers who were serving her an abuse prevention restraining order.

Kelsey Fitzsimmons, 28, a North Andover police officer and new mother, was shot once when three officers arrived at her home Monday evening to serve the court order, Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said at a news conference.

“When one of the officers was escorting Ms. Fitzsimmons during the service of the court order, an armed confrontation took place,” Tucker said. “As a result, one of the responding officers discharged their weapon, striking Ms. Fitzsimmons once.”

 She was flown to a Boston hospital and is in stable condition.

The restraining order filed against Fitzsimmons was a standard 209A order intended to protect victims of abuse. Authorities did not release further details about why the order was issued.

Under such orders, police are required to remove any firearms from the subject’s home. Court documents indicated police were aware serving the order could be dangerous. “Defendant is an officer with a license to carry. Plaintiff expressed concerns regarding Defendant’s reaction to being served,” the filing stated.

Fitzsimmons had been on administrative leave and recently filed to have her service weapon returned. The reason for her leave was not disclosed.

She has served with the North Andover Police Department for about a year and a half and holds a degree in criminal justice. She got engaged to a local firefighter late last year and gave birth to a baby boy in February.

 The district attorney declined to say if Fitzsimmons was armed during the confrontation. It also remains unclear which officer fired the shot, though Tucker noted that the officer involved has more than 20 years of service with the department.

Source: LIB