Phila. Officer Shot Dead in Olney Gunfight

by KYW’s Jim Melwert

Another Philadelphia police officer has been killed in the line of duty, the sixth in the last 15 months.

35th District police officer John Pawlowski was with his partner, responding to a call at Broad Street and Olney Avenue for a man with a weapon around 8:20pm.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey says as the officers approached, the man opened fire:

"The suspect shot one time through his coat striking officer Pawlowski. He fired two more times."

Officer Pawlowski was struck multiple times, and was pronounced dead at 8:44pm, just blocks away at Einstein Medical Center.

Mayor Michael Nutter:

"We are all mourning the death of Officer Pawlowski. We ask the citizens to pray for his wife Kim, who is two months pregnant."

Officer Pawlowski was 25 years old. Police shot and critically wounded the suspect, 33-year-old Rasheed Scrugs (right).

Officer Pawlowski is the first Philadelphia police officer killed in the line of duty this year -- but the sixth officer killed in the line of duty since October of 2007.

Listen to Mayor Nutter and Commissioner Ramsey's news conference.

"Yet another brave Philadelphia Police Officer has been killed in the line of duty this very sad evening.

"My thoughts and prayers are with Officer John Pawlowski’s family – his wife Kim and their unborn child; his three brothers Bob, Chris, and Vince; his sister Lauren; and his father John.  Let them and the Philadelphia Police Department know that they have the support of the entire City of Philadelphia in this unimaginably difficult time.

"Our deep sorrow is mixed with anger and disbelief.  When a Philadelphia Police Officer is killed in the line of duty, it is a loss that is felt by all Philadelphians.  We are a family, and tonight we have lost another son.

"John Pawlowski was a hero.  We are humbled by his service.  Officer Pawlowski’s duty was to protect and serve us all.  We must honor his memory with an unwillingness to surrender our city and a determination to bring to justice those who make us unsafe and terrorize our neighborhoods.  We will not rest until our streets are safe for citizens and the police officers who protect us.

"Please let us also remember tonight Officer Skerski, Officer Cassidy, Sergeant Liczbinski, Officer Nazario, Sergeant McDonald, Sergeant Simpson, and others killed in the line of duty.

"I have given the order for all City flags to be flown at half staff to mark an official 30 day period of mourning."