CdA police officer shot Tuesday released from hospital Friday

The Coeur d’Alene police officer who was shot Tuesday during a traffic stop that erupted into gunfire was released from the hospital Friday.

Officer Charles Hatley, who took a bullet through his service belt on Tuesday, was released from Kootenai Health about 10:15 a.m. Friday after having surgery Tuesday night, the department announced in a news release.

“Officer Hatley is doing well and will be able to continue his recovery with his family,” Detective Jared Reneau wrote.

Hatley suffered the gunshot wound after 34-year-old Curtis B. Ware, of Post Falls, was pulled over Tuesday night near the intersection of Government Way and Hattie Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. Officer Kelly Mongan made the original traffic stop, but Hatley and Officer Taylor Beach arrived to serve as backup.

During the traffic stop, police Chief Lee White said, Ware pulled a gun and fired. Officers returned shots in what witnesses described as more than a dozen gunshots.

Beach, who has worked as a police officer for five years, loaded Hatley into the patrol vehicle, White said, and took him to Kootenai Health, which is located less than a mile from the shooting. Hatley was working as a field training officer after graduating only two months ago from the patrol academy.

“We would like to thank the citizens of Coeur d’Alene along with the greater Inland Northwest community for the continued support Officer Hatley and the Coeur d’Alene Police Department have received through this stressful incident,” Reneau wrote.