A man has been shot by police after a confrontation in the central western NSW town of Cowra.
The 32-year-old, identified by locals as Dennis John "DJ" Doolan, was shot by police in the lower back and was flown to Orange Base Hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
Police said in a statement emergency services were called to Jindalee Circuit shortly after 12pm today.
"On arrival officers located a man and attempted to speak with him," the statement read.
"During a confrontation, the man was shot by police."
9NEWS understands at one point the man was armed with a baseball bat, but was not when he was shot.
A Critical Incident Team will investigate the incident, including the discharge of a police firearm, before an independent review.