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‘Warrior’ cop is a ‘quality young man’

In his former career with the U.S. Coast Guard, Philadelphia police Ofc. Jesse Hartnett braved rough waters directing boats and crews through their missions, but the waters were never rougher for Hartnett than they were Thursday night on a piece of asphalt in West Philadelphia when he was ambushed in his patrol car by a gunman determined to take his life.

In his former career with the U.S. Coast Guard, Philadelphia police Ofc. Jesse Hartnett braved rough waters directing boats and crews through their missions, but the waters were never rougher for Hartnett than they were Thursday night on a piece of asphalt in West Philadelphia when he was ambushed in his patrol car by a gunman determined to take his life.

But the shooter had no idea who he was dealing with and Hartnett - a man described as "tough" by his father and a "warrior" by his boss - not only survived three gunshot wounds to his arm at point-blank range, he got out of his patrol car and returned fire, striking his assailant in the buttocks.

"It's both confounding and astonishing that he was able to escape . . . I can't say enough for his bravery and how he conducted himself," police Commissioner Richard Ross said of Hartnett, 33. "He really just demonstrated the paragon of excellence . . . in terms of being a warrior and everything else when he had to be."

Hartnett - born Jesse James Hartnett - grew up in East Lansdowne and graduated from Monsignor Bonner High School in 2001.

Hartnett's father, Robert, said his son always dreamed of being a police officer when he was growing up.

"He's a very quality young man," Robert Hartnett said of his son. "He has good determination and he's always wanted to help people and be a policeman."

In November 2001, shortly after graduation - and the attacks of 9/11 - Hartnett joined the U.S. Coast Guard, according to Coast Guard spokesman Chief Nick Ameen. Hartnett worked his way up to the position of coxswain, a post that is a "big step" that requires "a lot of training," Ameen said.

"The position has a lot to do with law enforcement, he has the authority to direct all boat and crew activities during a mission," Ameen said. "On any given Coast Guard boat mission the coxswain is the one in charge, even if the captain is on the boat."

Ameen said Hartnett changed to the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve in 2009 and remained in reserve status until November of last year.

Hartnett began his career in law enforcement in September 2010, when he joined his hometown police department - East Lansdowne - as a patrol officer.

East Lansdowne Police Chief John Zimath said Hartnett often worked by himself in a cruiser patrolling neighborhoods and answering calls that came in.

"He was a good officer. Actually, he was a great officer," Zimath said. "He was very well-liked in the community and he had an exemplary record here."

Hartnett left the East Lansdowne Police Department and joined Philadelphia's force in July 2011.

Robert Hartnett, the officer's father, said it was shortly before midnight Thursday when he received a call that his son had been shot. Police officers raced to the elder Hartnett's East Lansdowne home to pick him up and take him to the hospital to see his son.

"It was shocking but the officers were very excellent and comforted me and got me down there," Robert Hartnett, 58, said. "Jesse was in surgery and they explained that he was alive and OK but he had got hit several times."

Robert Hartnett said he was at the hospital all night with his son.

"Jesse was groggy when they finally got him out but he was aware of his surroundings and knew what was going on," Robert Hartnett said.

As so many have, Robert Hartnett said the fact that his son survived being ambushed and shot three times was "a miracle."

"Thanks to his training with the Philadelphia Police Academy and the Coast Guard, he defended himself to the best of his ability in the situation and they caught the guy," Robert Hartnett said. "It's all due to the proper training from the proper companies."

Zimath, Jesse Hartnett's former boss, said it wasn't too hard to believe the officer's brave actions.

"With his training and maturity, I see Jesse doing what he did," Zimath said. "It was a courageous act and he's a good guy."

At a news conference Friday, Ross said Hartnett's actions demonstrate his "valiance, courage and bravery."

"The bravery he demonstrated is absolutely remarkable. His will to live undoubtedly saved his life," Ross said. "I cannot explain how he escaped that. (It was) nothing short of miraculous and we're thankful for that."

Ross said that Hartnett is not only brave, but he has a reputation for being compassionate as well.

"An individual he arrested not long ago for narcotics, he stopped and got food for that individual's son," Ross said.

According to his father, Jesse Hartnett is single but he has a "very nice girlfriend." Aside from policing, Hartnett enjoys traveling and remodeling his Roxborough home, his dad said.

"He's a very strong, independent young gentleman," Robert Hartnett said of his son. "I never question what he does because he's very direct."

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