Chicago police officer accidentally shoots himself while driving in Albany Park

By Luke Wilusz

A Chicago police officer accidentally shot himself in the thigh Tuesday in Albany Park on the Northwest Side.

The accident happened while the officer was driving home at 1:35 p.m. in the 3200 block of West Argyle, according to Chicago police.

He drove himself to Swedish Covenant Hospital, where his condition was stabilized, police said. He was later transferred to Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

Chicago Police Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said CPD Supt. Eddie Johnson left a city budget hearing Tuesday afternoon to go to the hospital and “tend to the officer.”

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability will investigate the shooting.

The officer has been stabilized and will be transported to Illinois Masonic for further care. The officer was talking, alert and in good spirits. The accidental shooting happened while the officer was in his vehicle. @ChicagoCOPA will conduct their indepemdent investigation. pic.twitter.com/HdtQDyVTUF
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) October 30, 2018

BREAKING - An officer was injured by a possible accidental discharge and transported to Swedish Covenant. Superintendent Eddie Johnson will depart the budget hearing to tend to the officer. Details to follow pic.twitter.com/vkp1O7tyRd
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) October 30, 2018