Off-duty suburban police officer attacked

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A suburban police officer is being treated at a Chicago hospital Sunday night after being attacked on a city street.

Investigators say he was beaten and robbed after leaving a party at the 59th Street Harbor. Harvey Police Officer Derrick Moore required surgery at Northwestern Hospital.

That beating left the 43-year-old Moore with injuries to the head and face. It wasn't just one attacker, but a group of men, that left him critically-injured.

On the block in Gresham where Officer Moore lives, neighbors are shaking their heads.

"It's rough," said neighbor Jimmy Smith, who has known Moore for decades. "I don't know. The good people are being hurt. What can you do?"

Early Sunday morning the 43-year-old Harvey police officer himself needed help after being badly-beaten by a group of men.

"Officer Moore is just a lively individual, and to know that he's here in this particular situation really saddens us," said Sean Howard, City of Harvey spokesperson.

The incident happened near 59th Street Harbor around 2:45 Sunday morning. Officer Moore was off duty at the time and sitting in his SUV, when Chicago Police say he got out of the vehicle and was beaten in the head and face, an undetermined amount of money and property stolen.

"This was unexpected for us," Howard said. "He was off-duty. Obviously, he was enjoying himself on his free time."

Moore was taken to Northwestern Hospital, where his loved-ones gathered throughout the day. His condition, according to Harvey officials, has been upgraded from critical to stable condition.

Moore has been with Harvey Police five years and is a married father of four.

"If you're in a fox hole, you want him in there with you," Smith said. "If you get him, you better come up behind him because he's a big guy."

"He's the life of the station," said Howard. "He's full of joy. He's a jokester and a prankster, but he loves being a police officer."

Chicago police have no one in custody at this time. It's unclear exactly how many men were involved in this beating and robbery.