The man was shot at about 5 a.m. Thursday, officials said.
NEWARK -- A postal police officer has been released from the hospital and is in stable condition after being shot early Thursday morning in Newark, officials confirmed.
According to U.S. Postal Inspector Greg Kliemisch, the postal police officer was driving near the intersection of 18th and Winans Avenue at about 5 a.m. Thursday when two men allegedly impersonating police officers pulled him over. Though postal police officers do have official vehicles, the officer was not driving his at the time of the incident, Kliemisch said.
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After an interaction between the officer and the alleged impersonators, the officer was shot in his hand, and transported to a local hospital for treatment, Kliemisch said. He has been released from the hospital in stable condition, he said.
The two alleged impersonators fled the scene, Kliemisch said.
The injured officer is assigned to the Newark Division headquarters on Federal Square, officials said. The officer, who has served three years in the role, was not assigned to one post office, but patrolled the area on a daily basis, Kliemisch said.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly confirmed Thursday that the Essex County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the shooting. The Newark Police Department and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are also investigating, Kliemisch said.
According to officials, postal police officers are employed by the U.S. Postal Service to protect postal facilities and employees. It is unclear whether or not the officer was on his way to work.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the USPIS tip line at 877-876-2455 or the Essex County Prosecutor's Office tip line at 877-847-7432.
The shooting was one of two officer-involved shootings in Newark Thursday morning. The first involved a police officer shooting an armed robbery suspect at a Sunoco gas station at the intersection of Washington and Court Streets, authorities said.
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.