Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Steve,
It has already been a year, sometimes it feels as if it were yesterday. I truly feel blessed to have known you. I know that in my house you have been thought of everyday for the past year. I am sure that holds true for the homes of many that you have touched.

Donna, Daniel, and Rachel
May the Lord bless you and take care of you, May the Lord be kind and gracious to you, May the Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.
(numbers 6:24)

Friend and Wife of Fellow Officer
PGPD

June 21, 2006

What a solemn day it is. Maybe should be celebrating your life, but as I looked into the blue skies this morning, I thought of you and your family and tears filled my eyes. I know you're still hangin' around keeping an eye on things. Thank you. May God Bless Donna and your children.

Wife of PGPD PO

June 21, 2006

Steve,
A year already, it seems like yesterday. We miss you.

friend

June 21, 2006

Rest in Peace Sir and may The Lord bring comfort to your loved ones.

June 21, 2006

Please know that your dedication and sacrifice have not been forgotten as the first anniversary of your tragic death approaches. You will forever be remembered as a hero.

Linda Lamm - LEO wife and sister of
Jay Balchunas EOW 11.05.04

June 20, 2006

Steve - As the one-year anniversary of that tragic day approaches, I sit here and read through these reflections...I think of Donna and your beautiful kids often and all of your wonderful friends, family and fellow officers that I was able to meet who were so fortunate to have you in their lives...and for all of the citizens that you protected everyday. I know that you are watching down on all of them now. When I came to your home after the funeral, I was truly amazed at the stories your family and friends shared...I was fortunate to know you, although briefly, and to meet your wife and your wonderful family and to party with so many of them at your wedding in Key West. Such fun memories!!! You have touched my life in a way that I cannot explain....I do not understand why you were taken so young and so tragically, and I am relieved to know that the despicable character who caused this tragedy has been put away for life. My heart and prayers go out to Donna, Daniel and Rachel tonight, as well as your wonderful Mother and family/friends in Boston and in Maryland. This will be a tough week for all....

Missy in Boston.

Friend in Boston

June 19, 2006

Steve,

Happy Birthday

June 15, 2006

Steve,

HArd to believe it is almost the year anniversary of that nightmare of a day last June. Sometimes it feels like yesterday. I miss you!

June 6, 2006

IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO WRITE SOMETHING ON THIS PAGE I GUESS IVE ALWAY BEEN SCARED OF WHAT TO WRITE. I NEVER MET YOU BUT YOUR SMILE TELLS IT ALL YOU LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS DEPARTMENT ARE MY BROTHER AND SISTERS AND WE FIGHT FOR WHATS RIGHT AND TRY TO MAKE IT RIGHT. I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENDED IF YOU HAD LIVED, ID PROBALY MET YOU AND SHOOK YOUR HAND... I PRAY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SO THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND TAKEN CARE OF. I ALSO PRAY FOR OUR DEPARTMENT AND OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS SO THAT WE MAY GO ON AND KEEP FIGHTING. WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU OR ANYOTHER FALLEN OFFICER. WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE YOU IN OUR HEARTS. YOU ARE A BRAVE SOUL AND YOU GAVE IT ALL. WITH MUCH LOVE AND APPRICIATION GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WHERE EVER THEY ARE...

PO SERPAS 2793
PGPD

May 21, 2006

Sarge,
You were slain in the line of duty on my 1 year anniversary of being on the job. I will continue to serve in your honor and in the honor of our other fallen brothers and sisters. You can rest easy we will cover your beat.

To the family,
I am sorry for your loss, Just know you are not alone. You have a very large family outside of your own, you will have the strength and courage to get by.

"It is not how these officers died that makes them Heroes, It's how they lived" - National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

K.D. Matlock #748
Montgomery County Sheriffs Office, Ohio

May 17, 2006

Dear Steven,
The 25th Annual national peace officers memorial service was a perfect way to spend a weekend with the family and friends who love and miss you. Donna looks great and she is coping in her own special way. Daniel and Rachel are happy and doing very well, they look great. It was great to spend time with them. You can see that thier fathers lessons have meant alot and as result they are special children.

There were many other young families at the memorial. So many lives taken for sensless reasons. All the police officer heros are gone but not forgotten.
YOU ARE STILL REMEMBERED, NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN, WE LOVE YOU. MARY JANE

May 16, 2006

We will be in Washington with honor and respect to hear your name read.

Linda Rittenhouse, Matt's Mom
Matthew Rittenhouse EOW 9/16/04

Linda Rittenhouse

May 8, 2006

To Sgt. Steven Francis Gaughan, his loved ones and his fellow officers:

Please know that your memory is revered and honored today.

May your family continue be to comforted by the warm embrace of their law enforcement family, and other police survivors who share this painful journey with them. My heart is with your family, and I hope to meet them in D.C.

Reading all the loving reflections left by those who cared for you gives us an understanding of what a good and honorable man you were and of the high esteem with which you are held.

Steve, as a peace officer you rescued us, saved our possessions, our lives and our families. You are one of the rare heroes among us. You were always there for us in the most traumatic moments of our lives. No matter when we called, we just expected that you would come and do whatever it took to help us, and you always met our expectations. Your selflessness and dedication are awe-inspiring.

This world, this country, your community truly are better places because of you. To have lost you is a great tragedy, an irreplaceable, immeasurable loss for society. We are grateful for and to you, and honor you for all you did for us day in and day out whether you received a word of thanks or praise.

Rest in Peace, Sgt. Gaughan. I am so humbled by your valor and courage.

This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the distinquished service Steve gave to his community and the citizens of Marylnd, and for the supreme sacrifice he and his family made on June 21, 2005.

Phyllis Loya, mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

April 29, 2006

Steve,

Today your name was engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial wall. It was a beautiful service, though I wish it never would have had to happen. Your legacy will live on forever. Now even more people will be able to see your name and know that gave your life so that we all can be safe in our neighborhoods. You are so greatly missed. I still hear stories about you daily, about everyones life who you may have just touched with your smile, or someone who looked up to you as a recruit in the police department. It is beyond refreshing to know that the man who took you from us will sit behind bars for the rest of his life, never to know freedom again. That is however, the least that he deserves. You know there is so much worse that we all wish on him, but his time for judgement will come. I cannot believe it has been almost a year now. I still struggle to think about that day without breaking down into tears, but I think of Donna and the kids, and know how strong they have been, and it keeps me going on. We love you and miss you Steve. You will always be in our thoughts.

Police Dispatcher
Office of Homeland Security/PSC

April 25, 2006

I miss you,Steve.
It's coming close to being a year and it feels like yesterday.
Life "ain't" the same without you!

April 19, 2006

Dear Steve,
I can't begin to tell you just how much I miss you. It has taken awhile for me to drum up the nerve and come here. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of you and your family. You were a great person, a great friend and the best Police Officer i knew. You made me think about life a different way and because of you I try to smile more. You will always be in my heart. And I hope I can be half the Police Officer you were.

Your friend

PGPD

April 7, 2006

Hi Peanut,
Justice has been served.The low life will spend the rest of hie life behind bars.I wish him a miserable life.
This justice does not make the memory of your death any easier, the pain is always there. I hate him!!!!!!
WE THINK ABOUT YOU EVERY DAY. YOU ARE SPECIAL. If you see my mother up there, give her a hug for me. Like you , she will be missed. I HOPE you and my mom have some kind of a spiritual connection.WELL ONLY YOU TWO WILL KNOW FOR SURE. lOVE YOU, Mary Jane

April 7, 2006

Steve - That animal that took you away was convicted of 1st degree murder - as he should have. Finally, some justice in PG County! You should be so proud of Donna and your family. They were strong and stood up for you. They had the courage to ask for "life without parole" which must have been such a difficult decision. What grace from God they were given. Not all of us could have been that courageous. Many of us want justice to be served in another form. The one bright note is that one day this murderer will have to face God and God alone will pass judgement. We know then where he will go dont we? You can rest in peace now, however continue to watch over us all. We continue to miss you and think of you often, and we pray for your wife, children and family. Be proud of them Steve, they are so brave. I dont think our department will ever be the same without you. We are better for knowing you though, that is for sure.

April 6, 2006

Man where do i start. You believed in me when nobody else gave two sh!ts about me. you would stop past my house late at night an check on me and my mom an make sure every thing was alright. You were always there for me an my mom no matter what. and i really wanna say thanks for all u have done. Before i met i didnt like police. my own father is a major narcotics officer in d.c. an i didnt even like him. But u changed my views to police. i miss you so much you were like a father figure to me. i remeber there where so many times you would see me doin dumb stuff an you would stop me and just keep it real with you know. well im gonna get ready and end this up. but i wont every one to know that u were truly a super person. U werent like so many of the police in prince gerorges county who get a gun and badge an think they are the best thing since sliced bread. lol but its all good man i still remeber the last thing you told me " keep your ass out of trouble" lol with u wearin that damn dolphins sweat shirt lol man we are all missing you. all tha homies here in beltsville miss you. your legacy still lives on. 1 love homie ima see u some day in the pearly whites. until then u hold it down up there an ima hold it down in tha streets. GONE BUT NEVER FOGOTTEN. \,,/

vincent gonzales

April 4, 2006

Steve, the time has come for that dirty low life to pay his dues, and I trust that he will pay. I will be standing by to make sure that he see's the smile on my face as his sorry butt rots away in a tiny cell. I miss that mischevious smile that you wore so well. I look to the heavens and feel so much better knowing that you are there watching over us. I will see you one day soon. Always missing you and smiling at the thought of you.
Your #1 fan

March 29, 2006

Dear Steve,

I hope and my brother(Nova) are in peace. I really miss you two. Now that it is approaching the Memorial Service, I still cannot believe that you are gone. My brother John really loved you and he had alot of respect for you as a man and a police officer. I am sad that you are gone and I pray for you and John every day as well as your family. I know that you and John are at peace. Their are people in this world who are just plain cruel and evil, but they will have to answer someday for all their wrong doing. There are days, I just cry and think about what had happened to you and my brother. I also laugh of all the funny stories you guys use to tell me. May you and John rest in peace. You are gone from this world as we know it, but you are not forgotten and someday, we will all meet again and laugh.

From Dr. Bernard A. Novabilski, Brother of John J. Novabilski

God looks at you and says, " you have done a good deed in a weary world, so shall you be rewared with eternal peace, love, and happiness"

Walk with my brother Steve.

March 27, 2006

Steve,


The trial is coming up and I cannot stop thinking of you and what that animal has taken from us.

May he rot in hell

March 21, 2006

There sure will be alot of people raising their glass and toasting you tonight Steve. Happy St. Patrick's Day buddy. My daughter and I lit a candle in church for you yesterday, for you and for your family, as we know they continue to miss you. We all do. Our department is still grieving over your loss. Who knew that beautiful warm June day would end so ugly? We pray for you and your family, and may you rest in peace.

Valerie Bell
PGPD-Former dispatcher

March 17, 2006

Hey i miss you man. I learned alot from you and you helped me to grow into a better person. You are in a better place now and i hope i can be thier with you some day! Go Dolphins!

Love PW's Son Shawn Croissette

Shawn Croissette

March 16, 2006

In August of 2005, the makers of "extreme Makeover Home Edition" were in Prince George's County building a home for a needy family. Ty Pennington was of course on set during the filming. While coordinating county officers to work the event I learned that Donna Gaughan (Steve's wife) was a fan of Ty Pennington. This sent many of Steve's fellow officers into overdrive in an attempt to get a meeting with her and Ty Pennington. Due to Pennington's filming schedule the only time they could meet would be on a saturday morning. The meeting never took place and here is why.
Steve and Donna's son "Daniel" was going to play his first football game that morning, at the same time Donna would have met with Ty Pennington. Donna declined the meeting as not to interrupt Daniel's schedule anymore that it already was. You see Steve really liked football, and I would bet everything I own that Steve was there that day on the field with his son.
I've seen acts of courage, bravery, and disregard for personal safety to help others. But there are those acts of selflessness in order to help others that are just as courageous. Donna, Daniel, and Rachel may God be with you and keep you. God Bless.

Cpl. Scott Ainsworth #2260
Prince George's County Police

February 28, 2006