The Phoenix Police Department on Thursday identified the officer who was wounded during a shootout last week and issued a recording of him thanking the community and saying he is eager to return to work.

Police kept additional details about his alleged attacker under wraps. 

Officer Adrian Cruz, 27, has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home, police said Thursday afternoon. The 41-year-old suspect, who has not yet been officially identified, remained hospitalized. 

Cruz has been with the department for about two years. 

On Thursday evening, the Phoenix Police Department tweeted out an audio message from Cruz thanking the community for its support. 

“I have a long road to recovery but I can’t wait to go back to work and serve you, our community,” Cruz said in the audio message. 

At about 8 p.m. on Aug. 16, police say Cruz was in a marked patrol car and tried to pull over a vehicle that was “driving erratically” on Cactus Road near 25th Street. 

MORE: Phoenix chief on assaults, officer shootings: ‘This is happening all over the city’

The vehicle did not stop and continued traveling west before it stopped at a traffic light in a left-turn lane at Cave Creek and Cactus roads

Cruz got out of his car, approached the vehicle, tried to get the driver’s attention and demanded to see the driver’s hands. The driver fired a gun and wounded the officer.

“The suspect exited his car, walked toward the officer, and continued to shoot,” police said, adding that Cruz returned fire and critically wounded his attacker.

Both were treated and taken to a nearby hospital.

Reach the reporter at 602-444-8515, [email protected] or on Twitter: @pohl_jason

Arizona Republic reporter Dani Coble contributed to this report.

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