2nd Officer Shot In Ambush Released From Hospital; Reward Boosted To $50,000

A female Camden county detective shot in a Tuesday night ambush has been released from the hospital, officials said. Her partner, who was also shot, was released yesterday.

The detective, who has served more than four years, was struck in the hand. She was to be released from Cooper University Hospital in Camden after a follow-up meeting with specialists, Rick Kunkel, president of Camden County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 218, said earlier Thursday.

The male detective, a three-year veteran of the force, had wounds to his bicep and forearm.

Two plain-clothes detectives were shot as they sat in an unmarked SUV at a red light in the Bergen Square neighborhood around 8:30 p.m.

One detective returned fire and police are looking for two men who fled the scene in a white van.

Officials have not released the names of the detectives because they work as undercover narcotics officers.

Police have said they’re looking for two suspects. The van they were believed to have driven was recovered hours after the shooting in Camden and has been processed by investigators, according to police.

Also on Thursday, The New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police Lodge announced a $30,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of a suspect in the shooting. That is in addition to the New Jersey State Police Benevolent Association’s reward of $20,000, bringing the total award to $50,000.

“We consider an attack on ANY law enforcement officer in New Jersey regardless of union affiliation an attack on one of our own,” PBA President Patrick Colligan said Thursday.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips.