FOR OFFICER PAWLOWSKI, IT WAS HIS LAST TRIP

By Julio C. Núñez

I bet this is not the first time you are reading about the death of Philadelphia police officer John Pawlowski. One easy explanation could be that the shooting that took the officer’s life happened a couple of days ago--on Friday 13th to be precise. The other explanation could be that Officer Pawlowski, 25, is the eight police officer killed in the line of duty since 2006 and the first one gunned down in 2009.

For Philadelphians, the funeral processions honoring their fallen heroes seem more frequent--eight times more frequent than they are used to.

Officer Pawlowski was responding to a report of a “fight on the highway” on Broad Street, in front of the Olney Transportation Center. Police reports that the call was made by a cabbie after a thug demanded money from him. The thug, later identified as Rasheed Scrugs, warned the cabbie, "If you call the cops, I'm shooting you and the cops." The thug started firing at the officer Pawlowski, hitting him twice in the chest and once right above his bulletproof vest. Scrugs shot his .357 Magnum through his jacket pocket. Although Scrugs was wearing a bulletproof vest-- something quite common for thugs in Philadelphia, he was critically wounded when back up police returned fire.

The loss of yet another officer is particularly hard for Philadelphia's 35th Police District. It is the second hit within the last sixteen months. Officer Charles Cassidy was murdered when he walked into an armed robbery at a doughnut shop.

Both the officer and the shooter were taken to a Albert Einstein Medical Center. Officer Pawlowski was pronounced dead at 8:44pm. Rasheed Scrugs was admitted in critical condition.

Pawlowski's commitment for serving and protecting runs in his family. His brother Robert is a corporal in the radio room, and his father, John Sr., is a retired lieutenant with the Special Victims Unit.

Perhaps this isn't the first time you hear about officer Pawlowski. Last June, he disarmed and arrested a passenger of a Septa bus. Pawlowski had just received a recognition last week for his show of courage on the bus.

The 35th police district was one nine that Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey targeted with increased patrols at the beginning of last year. But the progress made has been slow. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that homicides in the 35th District dropped 27 percent in 2008 from 2007. Rape increased 28 percent. Armed robbery declined slightly, while other types of robberies stayed level. Aggravated assaults increased, both with a gun (15 percent) and without (13 percent). Overall, violent crime there was up 5 percent over 2007.

For now Philadelphians struggle to mourn the loss of yet another one of their heroes. Many residents wonder how far and for how long the wave of violence will go on. Although uncertainty plagues the streets, one thing is certain; all residents will remember Officer Pawlowski as their hero.

Officer Pawlowski is survived by his wife Kim and soon by his first child.

May He Rest In Peace.