Page 38 - FOP Magazine March 2019

Officers come together to honor first anniversary of losing Commander Bauer
■ BY DAN CAMPANA
On the first anniversary of losing Com- mander Paul Bauer to doing what he loved – serving the city and its citizens as a police officer – Chicago Police De- partment Directing Chaplain Father Dan Brandt spoke with words from a thou- sand-year-old scripture to bring praise and comfort.
Brandt called on those gathered at one of two memorial events “to love what is good, to do what is right and to walk humbly with your God.”
“I can think of no words that better de- scribe Paul Bauer. May we all follow that example that Paul gave to us,” Brandt said to those gathered at the Thompson Center on Feb. 13.
It was just outside the bustling down- town government building a year earlier that Bauer heard a radio call of a man who had fled from officers looking to question him. Bauer confronted the man, a con- victed felon, in a stairwell. Officials have said the man fatally shot Bauer during a struggle.
Brandt presided over Bauer’s funeral, which drew thousands of mourners – in- cluding law enforcement from around the country – to his Bridgeport neighbor- hood. The police chaplain reached back to his homily from that service when he described Bauer as a family man, a hum- ble public servant, a person of deep faith and someone who embodied integrity.
“We all come together as one. We are grateful for the life that God lent to us for 53 years. And, while certainly that life was lost much too early, we come together to both mourn and remember, but also to give thanks, thanks to God for Paul,” Brandt solemnly said.
Bauer’s wife, Erin, and daughter Grace were offered reassurances that, just as the CPD family has been with them since that tragic day, they would never be alone.
“We are still here for you and with you,” Brandt expressed.
During a second memorial service at the 18th District where Bauer served as commander, officers, police leaders and community members overlooked the cold, windy weather to pay tribute to their fallen leader. Commander Dan O’Shea said the event was originally in- tended for just those who work in the 018, but that officers wanted to share it publicly with those in the neighborhood
38 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MARCH 2019
Randall Blakey, the executive pastor of LaSalle Street Church, reads a poem to honor Commander Paul Bauer during the memorial service at the 18th District.
The Department’s mounted unit was on hand
to honor its former commander at the memorial service.
who had offered so much support after Bauer’s death.
“Although this is a somber reminder of the events that occurred one year ago to- day, we are here today remembering and honoring Commander Bauer’s life as a son, friend, husband, father and Chicago police commander,” O’Shea told those in attendance.
The tributes continued as “Amazing Grace” bellowed along the street lined by officers and citizens outside 18th District headquarters. A special broadcast went out across all police radio channels to honor Bauer.
“May he rest in peace. We never for- get,” the dispatcher announced.
Randall Blakey, the executive pastor of LaSalle Street Church and executive di- rector of the Near North Unity Program, brought it all together as he spoke of the program recognizing Bauer with its advo- cacy award just weeks before his death.
The Chicago Police Department Honor Guard begins the memorial service at the Thompson Center to honor Commander Bauer.
Blakey described Bauer as being a “true gentleman” in his approach as a police of- ficer. Blakey recited a poem by that same title to carry forth the essence of what so many saw in Bauer – “a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue is safe.”