WARSAW, Ky. - A 59-year-old Hanover, Ind., man was killed and a Warsaw police officer was slightly injured in an apparent shootout early Sunday in a Gallatin County park, Kentucky State Police said.

        Jerry Sample was pronounced dead of gunshot wounds at 2:20 a.m. at Carroll County Hospital by Coroner James Dunn.

        Officer Brent Caldwell, 36, was taken to St. Luke West Hospital in Florence, where he was treated for minor injuries suffered when a bullet hit his right side but was deflected by a bullet-proof vest, said Sam Conner, a nursing supervisor. Officer Caldwell was released from the hospital later Sunday.

        The officer was investigating a vehicle parked at a Gallatin County park off U.S. 42 at 12:30 a.m. Sunday when he saw Mr. Sample sleeping on a bench nearby, state police said. After he approached Mr. Sample and identified himself, the Indiana man drew a gun and fired shots, so the officer returned fire, investigators said.

        “He told me that he identified himself as a police officer, told the guy who he worked for and who he was, and ... then it happened,” Warsaw Police Chief Donnie Gould said. “He is a very good officer and used very good judgment. The officer has a right to defend himself.”

        Mr. Sample was shot numerous times, Mr. Dunn said, but he declined to elaborate.

        Officer Caldwell radioed for assistance at 12:46 a.m. saying he had been shot, records show.

        Emergency medical workers found Mr. Sample lying wounded nearby and transported him to the hospital, where he died less than 90 minutes later. Mr. Sample's body was taken to the state medical examiners office in Louisville for an autopsy. Officials there did not return calls Sunday.

        Police had no other information on Mr. Sample Sunday night.

        Officer Caldwell has been with the Warsaw Police Department since March 1999, and previously worked for other police departments, Chief Gould said. The force has three full-time officers and one part-time officer, he said.

        The incident was the first police-involved shooting in the area for at least 15 years, the chief said.

        Officer Caldwell was recovering at his Williamstown home Sunday night with his wife and two small children, Chief Gould said. He is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard procedure, the chief said.

        “He's doing good,” Chief Gould said. “He used every precaution that he could and took good cover and everything once the shooting started. He was pretty much text-book, like we're taught at the academy.”

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