WHEREAS
, Officer John Pawlowski was appointed to the Philadelphia Police Department on April 14, 2003; and
WHEREAS
, On February 11, 2008 Officer Pawlowski was assigned to the 35th Police District; and
WHEREAS
, On Friday night, February 13, 2009, at about 8 p.m., Officer Pawlowski, and his partner, responded to a call about a fight on the highway in front of the Olney Transportation Center at Broad Street and Olney Avenue; and
WHEREAS,
The fight turned out to be a confrontation between a cab driver and a gunman; in which the gunman demanded money and the cab driver warned that he would call police; and
WHEREAS
, The gunman responded, "If you call the cops, I'm shooting you and the cops,"; and
WHEREAS
, As Officer Pawlowski and his partner arrived on the scene and approached the gunman, whereupon the gunman lifted his .357 magnum handgun, firing it through his clothing, and striking Officer Pawlowski in the chest above his bullet proof vest and grazing his partner; and
WHEREAS,
The partner and a back-up officer returned fire, wounding the gunman; and
WHEREAS,
Officer Pawlowski was taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 8:44 p.m.; and
WHEREAS,
Officer Pawlowski is the product of a police family, his father, John, Sr., being a retired lieutenant and his brother, Robert, a corporal in the police radio room; and
WHEREAS,
Officer Pawlowski graduated from St. Anselm grade school and Archbishop Ryan High School, and was active in the Parkwood Youth Association; and
WHEREAS,
Officer Pawlowski is survived by his wife, Kim, his father, John, his brothers Robert, Christopher, Vincent and his sister Lauren, his grandmother Stella, and in-laws, nephews and nieces; and
WHEREAS
, Officer Pawlowski was 25 years old when he died, having served with the Philadelphia Police Department for almost five years and had been awarded two merit commendations; and
WHEREAS
, Officer Pawlowski resided in Parkwood Manor; and
WHEREAS
, In recognition of the dedicated service by Officer John Pawlowski and to further memorialize the sacrifice he made by serving and protecting the citizens of Philadelphia; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
, That we honor the life and service of this dedicated public servant by also naming Medford Road from Academy Road to Nanton Drive/Mechnaicsville Road and the streets at the intersection of Broad Street and Olney Avenue in honor of Officer John Pawlowski Badge No. 5649.
End