By William A. Weathers
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A Cincinnati undercover police officer was assaulted by several people in Corryville just after midnight and underwent surgery this morning for multiple injuries at University Hospital.

As police investigate the attack, the undercover officer's car sits in the parking lot of the Cincy Deli at Jefferson and University Avenues in Corryville. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

Police Chief Tom Streicher said doctors described the officer's condition as serious before he was taken into surgery just before 3 a.m.

"He does have multiple injuries - more than one type of injury," the chief said.

The identity of the injured officer was not being released, Chief Streicher said, because he was on "an extremely sensitive assignment" with a narcotics unit and was "exposed to a tremendous amount of danger on a daily basis."

For lack of better term, the chief said, the officer's assignment was "deep undercover."

The officer was working on that assignment when he was assaulted.

"My understanding is that he was on-duty at time," the chief said outside the hospital emergency room shortly after speaking to the officer before he went into surgery.

Police responded to an officer-needs-assistance call about 12:15 a.m. in the parking lot of the Cincy Deli at Jefferson and University Avenues in Corryville. The officer's vehicle was parked in the lot.

After the injured officer was found, police blocked off an area on Central Parkway between Findlay and Stark streets that was believed to be related to the assault.

Chief Streicher said the investigators were not sure what exactly took place. The officer was very groggy when he spoke to him, he said.

"He was almost unconscious when I talked to him."

Chief Streicher described him as "an extremely dependable officer. I would trust him with my life."

Jane Prendergast contributed to this report.

E-mail bweathers@enquirer.com