Emotions Run High After Officer's Death

PHILADELPHIA - Officer John Pawlowski comes from a family of police officers. His brother is a corporal in the radio room and his father a retired lieutenant. Some might say policing was in his blood.

Officer Pawlowski's supervisors say he was energetic and thrived on adrenaline. He asked to be assigned to the busy 35th district in North Philadelphia, which is one of the city's high crime areas, reported Fox 29's Robin Taylor.

Story: Funeral Arrangements Set For Slain Officer

Fellow officers are taking the loss hard. A year-and-a-half ago, they lost Officer Chuck Cassidy, and now they are mourning again.

"There's a lot of guys and ladies that are off and they still coming up here just to hug one another and support one another," said "Ms. Pat" Patricia Redmond of Double Lyte Posse.

Officer John Pawlowski made a name for himself when he wrestled a gun from a man on a crowded SEPTA bus. But this time, the suspect fired first, hitting him just above his bulletproof vest.

At St. Anselm, his Catholic parish, people were asking why.

"You know, these young men are giving up their lives and, you know, for what? What is going on? What is wrong with this world today?" asked parishioner Dee Franks.

"Something needs to be done to stop the violence in the city. It seems like every Catholic parish in the city has had an incident like this and it's just a shame that it's come home here too," said parishioner Chuck Cushman.

Officer Pawlowski grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, attending Catholic schools. He leaves behind a wife, who is expecting their first child.

"You know a wife, newly married, a kid on the way. How much more tragic can you get, you know," said parishioner Tony DiGiuseppe.

Crime has taken its toll on the officers of the 35th District. An outdoor mural on the side of its headquarters commerates those who have died in the line of duty. Unfortunately, they're going to have to add another face to the wall.

Memorial Grows For Fallen Officer

Sunday evening, you could barely see the memorial for the crowd that was gathered around it. A vigil was held for Officer John Pawlowski and, at the same time, law enforcement made a plea to people in the community to try to help them out in the dangerous job they do, reported Fox 29's Shawnette Wilson.

It was a small gathering, but their presence spoke volumes.

Anti-violence advocates made a plea to the community to help stop crime, in this case against police officers.

"We have to let them know who in our community is out here with these grudges and hate-filled moments," said one man. "They want to take out an officer and destroy a heroic life."

The vigil on the corner of Broad Street and Olney Avenue is for Officer Pawlowski, gunned down Friday by suspect 33-year-old Rasheed Scrugs, a man whom police call a career criminal.

"We want to go out there and send a message to the guys who are thinking about doing this in the future that it's unacceptable,” said Greg Bucceroni of Crime Victim Services.

Many people who passed by stopped and listened as members of the 35th District where Officer Pawlowski worked stood by.

"It bothers me a lot because here's a young man, 25, trying to do the right thing, with a baby on the way, and his life was taken senselessly," said one woman.

Others were touched by Captain John McClosky's remarks. His district has lost four officers, including Pawlowski.

"We're trying to figure out how something like else can happen again, especially us in the 35th District. But at the same time, all these officers here, they're gonna go out there and continue to do the job that they like to do, they love to do, and that's protect the citizens,” said Captain McClosky.

Anti-violence advocates made a plea to the community to develop better relationships with police officers so they won't be afraid to report crimes and also let police know about people who are on the streets carrying guns when they should not be.