Washington Officer Possibly Infected after Stepping on Tainted Needle

An officer with the Seattle Police Department was on foot patrol at a local park when he stepped on a dirty needle. The needle pierced the sole of his patrol boot, and penetrated into his foot.

The officer—who has not been identified—was then taken to a hospital to be examined, and is undergoing treatment to prevent HIV and hepatitis, according to MyNorthwest.com .

"The men and women of the Seattle Police Department put themselves on the line every day and one of the hazards of working in public safety is the risk of injury," Seattle Police Sergeant Sean Whitcomb said. "We're very disheartened that this officer was injured and all of us here are hoping for a speedy recovery."