COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A Columbus police officer is recovering after being shot in the face over the weekend.
Officer Ryan Chrysler is expected to recover and is eager to return to duty, NBC 4's Mikaela Hunt reported.
Chrysler was part of the 19th police-involved shooting in 2008. Four officers have been seriously injured in attacks on officers.
The Fraternal Order of Police said in October that while violent crime numbers weren't up, the number of gun runs were on the rise.
"We're stretched so thin, we're covering more area with less officers. Run volume is up more than it's been in years," said FOP President Jim Gilbert in October.
Statistics show that officers during a five-day stretch responded to more than 300 calls on shootings, shots fired or someone with a gun.
The city's public safety department said the violent crime numbers trumped run numbers.
In the wake of the most recent shooting, NBC 4 again talked to Gilbert.
"Has anything changed since we last talked?" Hunt asked.
"I don't think anything's changed. Officers are responding the best they can," Gilbert said.
In the latest case, police confirmed that Chrysler and his partner Shea McCracken were responding to a call of shots fired.
Gilbert said that the shots fired calls are creating a heightened sense of awareness among officers, so they're ready to shoot if needed.
"I think it's important for the citizens to realize things are not as safe as they appear," Gilbert said.
Police said they can't determine if an increase in runs has led to an increase in officer-involved shootings, saying they only know one thing.
"Police officers have a dangerous job and are being attacked more often," said Columbus police Sgt. Rich Weiner.
When approached about the situation, the Department of Public Safety said no one was available to talk to NBC 4 and said instead to contact Columbus police.
Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for additional information.
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