West Bloomfield Police Officer Shot, Killed in Line of Duty

Police said Monday morning that West Bloomfield Police Officer Patrick O'Rourke was shot and killed Sunday night after responding to a call of shots fired at a home near Pontiac Trail and Halsted.

O'Rourke, a 39-year-old married father of four, was a 12-year veteran of the force.

Police said there were five officers responding to the 4000 block of Forest Edge Lane when shots were fired and O'Rourke was hit. He was taken to McLaren Hospital in Pontiac where the officer was pronounced dead.

It is unclear how many times he was hit orwhere he was hit. The gunman is still inside the home and police have the area blocked off and evacuated. 

Several law enforcement agencies, including Bloomfield Township, Michigan State Police, Oakland County Sherrif's Department and Novi Police are assisting at the scene.

Novi Police Chief David Molloy said four of his officers have been on the scene in West Bloomfield Township since midnight. Novi and West Bloomfield Township are partners with a special response team.

"We're still assisting them with trying to take the suspect into custody," he said.

Uniformed officers who helped with traffic control during the night are now back in the community.

Molloy said officers deal with this kind of domestic situation "every single day".
"It's just sad when it has a tragic outcome like this," he said. "It's a sad day."

Patch Local editors Joni-Hubred Golden and Art Aisner contributed to this report.

Stay with Patch for updates on this ongoing story.