Wounded Phoenix officer ‘doing well’; chief ‘angry and tired’ over shootings

PHOENIX – A Phoenix police officer was “resting comfortably” a day after she was shot by a man who remains on the loose, Chief Jeri Williams said Friday morning, adding that she was “angry and tired” about a surge of violence against law enforcement.

“She is doing well. She’s resting comfortably,” Williams told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show before praising the staff at HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center, where the officer underwent surgery.

The wounded officer has been on the force for 24 years. Her husband is also a Phoenix police officer, and he was at the scene when five officers were shot and four were injured in an ambush earlier this year.

“So when you talk about a family of servants, they’re not here just to protect other people in blue uniforms,” Williams said. “They’re here to protect you when you’re having the worst day of your life, and in spite of the challenges they’re going to run into danger. They’re going to confront danger with a disregard for their own personal safety.”

In another incident on Thursday, a Glendale officer was shot by a suspect after an hourslong standoff. That incident ended with the gunman’s death.

Eight Phoenix officers have been shot during four critical incidents this year. In addition, Officer Tyler Moldovan was nearly killed after getting shot multiple times in mid-December.

“I’m angry and tired that every time I turn around I’m looking in the eyes of the families of our law enforcement officers [and] squad mates of the officers having to share this kind of news, the fact that one of my officers has been shot,” Williams said.

“I’m tired of the fact that there seems to be this brazen disregard to public safety, especially when it comes to individuals who are prohibited possessors or folks who shouldn’t possess firearms because of previous felony convictions.”

The suspect in Thursday’s shooting, Nicholas Cody Cowan, is still at large.

Williams said she’s confident her “tenacious” staff and other agencies taking part in the manhunt will find him.

“They will not rest until he’s in custody, but we know that we need the help of our community,” she said.

Williams said don’t approach Cowan if you see him because he is dangerous and to “just call 911.”

Phoenix PD is still searching for a white male; Nicholas Cowan, 215 pounds, 6’0” tall, hazel eyes/brown hair.
Last seen wearing a black hat, black t-shirt, black shorts. Has tattoos on neck, arms, chest and back. Armed and dangerous. If sighted call 911. pic.twitter.com/0PLjfcaWR0

— Phoenix Police (@PhoenixPolice) April 14, 2022

Cowan, 35, is 6 feet tall and weighs 215 pounds, with hazel eyes and brown hair. He was last seen wearing a black hat, black T-shirt and black shorts and has tattoos on his neck, arms, chest and back.

Police say he opened fire on officers who responded to a domestic violence call outside a gas station at Beardsley and Cave Creek roads around 10:15 a.m. Thursday.

Authorities activated a Blue Alert on Thursday afternoon, triggering alarms on cellphones across the Valley, and Silent Witness is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to Cowan’s arrest.

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