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Updated 01/05/2013 05:23 PM

Off-Duty Officer Wounded During Attempted Robbery Released From Hospital

By: NY1 News

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Police officers cheered outside Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx on Saturday, as an off-duty officer who was shot earlier in the week during an attempted robbery was released from the hospital.

Officer Juan Pichardo was shot in the leg at his family's car dealership in Olinville on Thursday night.

Police said two men walked into the dealership and, after looking at a car, pulled a gun and started looking for cash.

Pichardo, who was unarmed, struggled with the gunman and was shot.

Despite his injury, Pichardo and a co-worker were able to hold down the gunman.

Fellow officers said Pichardo did his job very well.

"Officers are never off the clock. They're always doing their best, you know, to protect the people of the City of New York," said an officer who saw Pichardo's release.

"You know, it's not often that you see something like this, but he did a very good job," said another officer. "He's a hero in my eyes and he deserves everything that comes to him."

The gunman's alleged accomplice was caught a short time later alongside two others in a getaway car.

All four suspects are facing charges, including attempted murder and assault.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the gun in the shooting was reported stolen in North Carolina last month.

Another two police officers who were shot in Brooklyn on Thursday night were released from the hospital on Friday.

Officers Lukasz Kozicki and Michael Levay were wounded when they confronted 37-year-old Peter Jourdan on the N train in Brooklyn.

Levay was hit in the back but returned fire, killing the suspect.

Family members of Jourdan said the suspect was severely paranoid and they are seeking legal action to learn more about what happened.

Police-involved shootings took place during the first four days of 2013.