Melbourne PSO injured in station shooting

A Protective Services Officer has minor facial injuries after being shot with a imitation gun while patrolling a Melbourne train station.

Pellets were fired from a nearby balcony at the officer while at Highett station about 1am on Wednesday, police said.

The victim was lucky to avoid serious injury or blinding in the unprovoked attack, Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt said.

"This sort of reprehensible behaviour disgusts us and it should disgust the community," he told AAP.

"There's never any reason to target police or to target PSOs."

The officer is recovering at home.

A survey of Police Association members found more than two-thirds of officers reported being threatened while working, 35 per cent have been attacked and 16 per cent have been injured as a result of an attack.

"It shows there is a propensity in the community to prey on police, to treat them with disrespect and contempt," Mr Gatt said.

A 23-year-old man was arrested in the lobby of a neighbouring apartment building and will face Moorabbin Magistrates' Court on Wednesday on numerous charges.