Injured Phoenix police Officer Peter 'Chris' Bennett on road to recovery

PHOENIX - Phoenix police officer Peter "Chris" Bennett is still recovering from the three gunshot wounds he sustained from a shooting Sunday night .

Despite having his jaw wired shut, and discomfort in his lower back where a bullet still remains, Bennett says he feels good and is thankful to be alive.

He still has swelling in his face and a bandage to cover up reconstructive surgery he had to his ear from the bullet wound.

Doctors chose not to remove the bullet that went through his hip and into his back. They said it's not necessary to remove a bullet unless the patient complains of pain.

Bennett was also hit in the right arm along with other shots that he survived because of the bulletproof vest he had on.

Doctors said if he was hit one inch lower, or if the bullets went any deeper, he may have been paralyzed or even worse, not alive today.

"Because I was shot in the face, I truly believed that would be the end. I immediately thought about my family and my children and that I may or may not be around for them. But thankfully, the Phoenix Police Department does an amazing job training their police officers. It ultimately led to my survival in part," said Bennett.

Officer Bennett said the main reason why he spoke Tuesday was to send his thoughts and prayers to the Maricopa County Sheriff's deputy that was shot early Tuesday morning.

He is asking that everyone thinks of him and his family.