Wounded Officer’s Name Released, Benefit Accounts Established

Joseph Maher, 27. Tupelo police officer shot during bank robbery.

Tupelo, Miss. (WCBI) – At a Tuesday evening press conference, Tupelo Police Chief Bart Aguirre identified the police officer wounded in a shootout with a bank robbery suspect as Joseph Maher, 27.

Maher is a five year veteran of the force.

Aguirre says doctors are hopeful Maher will make a full recovery but he has a long road to be fully rehabilitated.

Maher remains hospitalized. Officials didn’t give specifics about where Maher was injured.

During the press conference, Mayor Jason Shelton announced BancorpSouth has established a memorial fund for fatally wounded officer Sgt. Gale Stauffer’s family. He leaves behind a wife and two children.

A separate account is set up to benefit Maher.

Donations can be made at any BancorpSouth branch. The bank will match contributions up to $10,000 for each officer’s account.