Page 42 - March 2018 FOP Newsletter

Commander Bauer
Honoring
QUIET RESPECT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41
ing along doing the work of a beat cop. “Even as commander, he never expect- ed one of his officers to do something he wouldn’t do himself, like pursing fleeing and armed criminals,” Father Dan said. “Of course, that brave show of humility is
what cost him his life.”
Some of Bauer’s closest friends shared
stories of how they grew up together in CPD, but, more importantly, how they shared life beyond the badge. Former Interim Superintendent John Escalante, who met Bauer when they were first-grad- ers, painted a picture of his friend as a true professional and even better human being with a modest streak so strong that he even skipped his own promotion cere- mony when he made commander.
“He never, ever wanted to be the center of attention. He never wanted the spot- light to be on him,” Escalante said in his eulogy at the funeral. “Whether you knew Paul for five minutes or longer than that, he left a lasting impact and it was nothing but positive.”
When stepping up for his turn at the podium, Mayor Rahm Emanuel choked back tears as he mentioned Bauer walk-
The line for the visitation on Feb. 16 lasted more than three hours.
42 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MARCH 2018
ing his daughter Grace to school nearly every morning.
“Today our souls are suffering in sor- row. Our hearts are broken. Our entire city is in mourning because Commander Paul Bauer embodied the best of Chica- go,” Emanuel said.
After the readings and tributes were concluded, the hymns were sung, and Communion was offered to those in at- tendance –– and to many officers out- side the church –– the crowd gathered en masse on the sidewalks and in the middle of 37th Street.
Draped in a Chicago flag, Bauer’s cas- ket emerged from the church for the sol- emn traditions of a 21-gun salute and the CPD Pipes and Drums playing “Amazing Grace.” Honor Guard members folded the flag with precision and presented it to Bauer’s family.
A short time later, a miles-long proces- sion of nearly 1,000 vehicles –– including some 400 from suburban and out-of-state departments –– headed west on 37th to- ward Halsted Street to begin Bauer’s journey to his final resting place at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip. d