By WPRO News and The Associated Press

A Providence police officer has been shot but survived in part because he was wearing a bulletproof vest.

Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements declined to identify the officer saying that his extended family hadn’t been notified of the shooting yet. The officer is a member of the department’s violent crime task force.

The Providence Journal reports that Commissioner of Public Safety Steven Pare said the officer, later identified as Matt McGloin, was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time of the shooting and that the vest stopped the bullet.

Police identified the suspect as Tyrone Robinson, 19. It was not immediately clear if Robinson had a lawyer.

Chief Clements said Robinson was well-known to police, and was free on bail from a previous arrest at the time of the shooting.

McGloin, he said was a highly-decorated officer.

“He’s been involved in may dangerous situations. Thank God, he’s okay,” Clements said.

The shooting occurred near the intersection of Douglas Avenue and Admiral Street on Friday afternoon.

“It’s a great day for the Providence Police, because that officer had a vest and that vest stopped that bullet,” said Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare. “We’re grateful for that.”