Commander Paul Bauer, a veteran of 31 years in Chicago police, was shot dead on February 13 while trying to capture a suspect. It was one of the few rare instances when gun violence happened during the day. The 53-year-old was shot at Thompson Center in the Loop area of the city. The suspect was fleeing from tactical officers who tried to stop him a few minutes before. Bauer has a 13-year-old daughter.
The incident
When Bauer confronted the suspect, the latter drew his gun and shot the law enforcement official twice. Bauer was in that Chicago locality post-attending the “active shooter” training. The program prepares police officers for large-scale shootings. He was supposed to attend a meeting with aldermen later during the course of the day. Police officers arrested the suspect soon after the incident. He is a four-time felon. The 44-year-old spent almost two decades inside a correctional facility. The suspect who could not be publicly named as he is yet to be charged with the murder was earlier convicted in 1998 on charges of robbery. Police officers recovered a firearm from the suspect. The latter wore a protective vest during the scuffle.
Bauer was the first serving Chicago police officer shot dead since 2011. The nature of the crime becomes more horrifying as he was one of the top ranking officers being killed in the line of duty during the last few decades. The incident sent the CBD of Chicago into a tizzy as police and emergency medical responders whizzed down the streets, their sirens blaring. Sad police officers huddled in groups outside the Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The news of the commander's death was given by Superintendent Eddie Johnson. He delivered the message crying.
Able professional
Bauer was a career police officer who rose through the ranks. He took leadership of the Near North District of the force in 2016, near to where he was fatally shot. He had earlier made public his frustration at the inability of the Chicago authorities to clear away repeat offenders from the city streets. This is a common complaint made by many police officers and even political officials entrusted to control the crime rate. Most of them happened due to recidivism.
Bauer was a popular human being. His neighbors spoke highly of the able police officer who was always there to help. He was in uniform when he breathed his last.
Corey Grochek
my prayers go out to the family
Corey Grochek
Feb 15, 2018 at 01 01 pmShawn Schneider
CPD lost a great man. How about some truth in sentencing? Realizing violent repeat criminals need to be locked up far far away? Chicago has been too soft on criminals for too long, now an innocent wife and daughter suffer the consequences.
Shawn Schneider
Feb 15, 2018 at 02 29 pm