BATAVIA, N.Y. – The search for fugitive Ralph “Bucky” Phillips,
44, is reaching a frenzied crescendo.

Two New York state troopers were in critical condition Friday –
one in Buffalo and one in Erie, Pa. – after being shot Thursday
night in the Town of Pomfret, according to Trooper Rebecca Gibbons,
public information officer.

Troopers Joseph Longobardo, 32, and Donald Baker Jr., 38, are
part of a mobile response team that was combing the area in Pomfret
Thursday afternoon when both were shot at about 6 p.m. Although
police are treating Phillips as the prime suspect, they say they do
not know where the gunman fired from.

Longobardo was taken to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo,
where a nursing supervisor said Friday night he was listed in
critical condition. Police said Longobardo was shot in the thigh,
damaging a major artery.

A patient information representative at Hamot Medical Center in
Erie, where Baker was taken, said he had no information on his
condition Friday. Gibbons told The Era, however, that Baker – who
was shot in the back, the bullet exiting his body through his side
– was still alive and in critical condition early Friday night.

The shot through Baker’s back apparently pierced the
bullet-proof vest he was wearing, police said. As such, they
believe the bullet came from a high-powered rifle. Gibbons said
there were several rifles of that caliber taken from Tom’s Gun Shop
in Ellington during a burglary late Aug. 19 or early Aug. 20.
Police think Phillips is responsible for the burglary and the theft
of 41 firearms from that location.

Both troopers are 8-year veterans of the New York State
police.

Gibbons went on to say there are hundreds of police officers
patrolling, searching and working roadblocks in Chautauqua County
and at the New York-Pennsylvania state line.

Also, nearly a quarter of a million dollars is now being offered
for information leading to Phillips’ conviction, she said. She said
at about 5:30 p.m. Friday that the Police Benevolent Association
(PBA) or New York State troopers union, is now offering a $210,000
reward. A television news report out of Buffalo at 6 p.m. Friday,
said the reward was at $220,000, however.

Until Friday, authorities were offering a $50,000 reward for the
same information.

Gibbons said 75 more state troopers were dispatched to
Chautauqua County overnight Thursday night, for a total of 140
state troopers per shift, not to mention officers with federal and
local agencies, region SWAT teams, K-9s and helicopters.

Reports indicate local Pennsylvania officers from the City of
Bradford, Bradford Township, Foster Township and the Allegany State
Park Police assisted at the Limestone roadblock late Thursday
night.

Allegheny National Forest officials have beefed up their safety
measures for their employees while Phillips remains on the lam,
they said Friday.

Public affairs officer for the ANF, Steve Miller, said park
police have been in constant contact with law enforcement almost
daily this week.

“We are doing anything we can to help protect our employees in
the field there are a number of things we are doing,” he said. “For
those who are in the field, when they would normally work alone –
they now go out in twos. We have also instituted special
communication procedures relating to radio use including reporting
in more frequently to each office,” Miller added.

He said they continually receive vehicle alerts from law
enforcement as well.

“We have also reiterated to our people some of the basic
security measures and how to deal with someone who is potentially
dangerous and reminding them not to confront them and to withdraw
and report it to law enforcement officials,” Miller said.

“We are real careful with someone such as this in a forested
area – it could be someplace to hide,” he added. He also said at
the beginning of the week, they had an off-limits area near Wetmore
Township.

A call to Allegany State Park police about their procedures was
not returned Friday evening.

The Pennsylvania State Police and even some local Pennsylvania
officers are now involved in the search, some working a roadblock
just over the state line in Limestone.

A release from the Pennsylvania State Police headquarters in
Harrisburg said that authorities cannot rule out the possibility
that Phillips, who police believe had burglarized camps and stolen
vehicles in Pennsylvania recently, may be trying to flee back into
Pennsylvania.

“I would advise anyone with a hunting camp to exercise extreme
caution in dealing with strangers,” State Police Commissioner
Jeffrey B. Miller said in the release.

Gibbons said there have been no burglaries, thefts or other
activities since the shootings that could be linked to
Phillips.

“This community has suffered long enough,” Gibbons said. “It’s
time to bring him (Phillips) in.”