Tupelo Officer Released From Hospital

Maher

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) — The healing process from last week’s bank robbery that left a Tupelo police officer dead and another wounded took another step.

Joseph Maher, the officer critically wounded during the Dec. 23 shootout, quietly left North Mississippi Medical Center Tuesday morning to continue his recovery at home.

His family has requested privacy in the coming weeks, but Police Chief Bart Aguirre says he was encouraged by how Maher looked and sounded.

Maher was injured and Sgt. Gale Stauffer was killed when they were ambushed by Mario Garnett as he tried to get away after robbing the BancorpSouth branch on South Gloster.

Garnett was killed Saturday during a bank robbery in Phoenix, Ariz. The FBI has tied him to the Tupelo and Arizona robberies and an attempted bank robbery in Atlanta.

STATEMENT FROM CHIEF BART AGUIRRE

I am so pleased to report that Patrolman Joseph Maher was released from the hospital this morning. It has been a week since an attempt was made on his life while on duty. The whole community watched and prayed that he would survive the brutal attack while the hands of skilled medical professionals brought him through the crisis. Officer Maher, warrior spirit overcame this evil with the support of family, friends, fellow officers, and community. However, Officer Maher and his family have suffered both physically and emotionally–they need a time of quiet peace as a family. Please respect their request for a time of privacy to spend together. In a couple of weeks, Officer Maher feels he will be strong enough to meet with the media for an update on his condition. The TPD and Officer Maher both appreciate the support of the media and the community through the turmoil of the past week.

Thank you,

Chief Bart Aguirre