Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Steve thanks for your recomdations. I passed the physical and written tests and the oral interview. I have only a few more tests that I have to pass. The academy starts in December. I wish you could see me graduate in person but I know that you will be watching. I am going to be the world's great cop. So all criminals watch out.

Matthew A. Inzeo
Soon to be PGPD

November 3, 2005

STEVEN, ONE THINGS FOR CERTAIN, AND TWO THINGS FOR SURE, THE TIME IS NEARING FOR THAT MONKEY TO BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE, I WILL BE THERE TO SEE IT AND HIS SORRY BUTT WILL BURN IN HELL. I THINK OF YOU EVERYDAY AND WISH THAT I COULD SEE YOU JUST ONE MORE TIME, TO HEAR YOUR VOICE,AND SEE THAT SORRY SWEATSHIRT YOU WORE SO PROUDLY.I CAN NOT FIND THE COURAGE TO DELETE YOUR NUMBER FROM MY PHONE. SOME-HOW IT MAKES ME FEEL SAFE, LIKE I STILL HAVE A CONNECTION TO YOU. LIFE HAS NOT BEEN EASY FOR EITHER OF US, I HAVE FOUND MANY NOTES THAT V HAS WRITTEN TO YOU THANKING YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR BOTH OF US. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIMES YOU STOPPED BY OR CALLED AND ASKED HOW WE WERE DOING. WHEN YOU LEFT THIS EARTH YOU TOOK A PIECE OF BOTH OF OUR HEARTS. I JUST WONDER IF I WILL EVER GET OVER THE SADDNESS I FEEL EACH DAY WITH OUT YOU HERE. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

October 27, 2005

STEVE ITS BEEN A LITTLE OVER 4 MONTHS AND I'VE FINALLY HAD THE COURAGE TO WRITE ALTHOUGH I SPEAK TO YOU MANY TIMES A WEEK, I REALLY MISS YOU, YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR ME SO MANY TIMES IN THE PAST AND I STILL WONDER WHY,ALL I HAD TO GIVE YOU WAS FRIENDSHIP-CLEARLY THAT WAS ENOUGH.I MISS HEARING "JOEY" AND JUST WISH I WOULD HAVE KEPT MANY OF YOUR VOICEMAIL MESSAGES ON MY CELL.YOU ARE A REAL COP ALTHOUGH YOU'D BE CYNICAL TO THAT STATEMENT I'M JUST GLAD TO HAVE BEEN IN YOUR COMPANY AND B'S.LATER STEVE.


MAS 2450

Joe Masilek pofc
prince georges county police

October 24, 2005

no one asks to be a hero, it sometimes just ends up that way. My friend I miss you.

Big dog
PGPD

October 13, 2005

Thank you for your service. Having lost my son in the line of duty, I can sympathize with your pain. My thoughts and prayers are with you, asking God to give you comfort & strength.

Brenda Lucas, Mother of fallen officer
Anthony D. Lucas, French Camp, MS, Police Chief, EOW – February 4, 2005

October 6, 2005

Never take for granted the peacemakers. Pray for their families. Thank You Steve for upholding honor in your trade, and in life. May God Bless you and your loved ones.

Anonymous

September 28, 2005

Thanks for your service and sacrifice brother. May you rest in peace and May peace be with your family. You will always be remembered and loved by all of those who have worn Blue.

Officer Kieffer

September 27, 2005

STEVEN: I MISS YOU MORE TODAY,THAN YESTERDAY,BUT NOT AS MUCH AS TOMORROW. I WISH I COULD HEAR THAT SILLY LAUGH JUST ONE MORE TIME. I AM SURE YOU ARE WATCHING OVER ALL OF US.I HEAR YOUR VOICE IN MY DREAMS AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE TELLING US TO GET OVER IT AND KEEP MOVING ON BECAUSE WE WILL MEET AGAIN SOON ENOUGH.UNTIL THEN I WILL THINK OF YOU AS I ALWAYS DO AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BABY SITTING. UNTIL THEN

September 24, 2005

To the family and friends of Sergeant Steve Gaughan and his fellow officers with the Prince George's County Police Dept.

I was so saddened to read about the brutal murder of Sgt. Gaughan. On behalf of our entire family, I wish to extend our sincerest condolences for the grievous loss you have suffered.

In reading the reflections about Steve, it is obvious he was well respected by his peers. Steve's valor and dedication to his job will never be forgotten. I loved reading about his sense of humor and his zest for life...his personality is revealed in his picture with that glorious smile. He reminds me of my own son and I think they would have been good friends if they had met on earth; it my hope they have met as heroes in heaven.

I am glad that his wife and children have been comforted by the law enforcement community and other police survivors. How very sad that that these two children, adopted from Russia, will be without their father, but they will be such a blessing for Donna.

Our family grieves with you and for you. We too share your anquish as we lost our beloved Larry Lasater of the Pittsburg Police Dept. when he was fatally shot this April during a foot pursuit of two bank robbers.

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

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

September 22, 2005

Officer Gaughan,
The student officer's of section 106 would like to say thank you for the work you have done. You are truly a insperation to us and it would be a honor to be able to follow in your foot steps. God Bless you and your family.

Section 106
PGPD

September 17, 2005

IWILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU AND WISH I SAID IT MORE.YOU WERE MORE THAN MOST OF US STRIVE TO BE.SAVE ME A SEAT UP THERE.

September 7, 2005

Steve, I'll never forget the way that you used to make me laugh all those days at District III. I still can't believe that you are gone, but I know you are in a much better place now and keeping Nova company. You were a great cop and a great person. I pray for your wife and children. See you someday brother!

Bill Gray #1636
PGPD

Lieutenant William Gray #1636
Prince George's County Police Department

August 31, 2005

Steve - I am so sorry you had to leave us. It seemed much too soon. Thank you for the work you did for my family over the years at The Prestridge (DIII). You were one of a kind and a real character! I will remember the time you kicked my butt arm-wrestling (wasn't even close) and the summer we played hockey together - sorry I couldn't pass worth S. I will miss your stories about work. I regret that you didn't get a chance to meet my wife before you passed. Our hearts go out to your wife and kids. Rest in peace friend.

Steve Shamah
N/A

August 18, 2005

Steve,
It has been about two months since you left us. I have been looking through pictures of past vacations and holidays, and found a bunch with you in them. One in particular I look at when we were all young and having fun on the beach. I look at this picture and I actually wish I could go back just for a little while. For now I revisit this vacation in my head several times a week. We all miss you terribly, and I keep anticipating hearing your laugh when I walk into a room.

Friend
PGPD

August 17, 2005

I live in Greenbelt and although I never knew you I knew who you were. It's always good to know who the police officers are in your hometown. I always had a safe feeling when out and about that you and other officers were always around watching out for our safety. I want to thank you for that. May you rest in peace and may God look out for your wife and children.

August 16, 2005

Steve was the definition of what a brother, son, father, husband and friend, should be. When you were around him it was a given that you would have a smile on your face, if in fact you were not laughing so hard you couldn't breathe. Steve and I became friends when he met Donna, who is Candy's (my wife) best friend from high school and college. When Donna told Candy and I that she had met someone and wanted us to meet him, little did we know that it would be someone like Steve. When Donna and Steve were wed, Candy and I felt we no longer had to worry about Donna because Steve was THE ONE, a good man that would love her and be all the things that a husband should be. At the risk of sounding like the other reflections here let me just say that I have never met someone like Steve. I was just happy that I got to call him friend and was able to have a little over 6 years with him. I pity those people that never knew Steve and never got to experience life with him in it. There are a lot of things said about people when they pass on, some are true, some are not and some are exaggerations. This is the one time when words, no matter how well written or spoken, don't do the person justice. Steve was one of a kind.


Steve - I find it hard to smile when I think about how much I miss you. Then memories of our times together come flooding in and I can't help but smile. If I had known your time on this earth would be so short, I never would have moved away. Thank you for always being there, making me laugh (even when I didn't want to), for being the kind of friend everyone wants and for your love. I miss you.

Donna - Thank you. You were the one that found him and brought him into Candy's and my life. I know it doesn't always feel like it, but we are the lucky ones for we are the ones that knew him. We love you and we are here for you.

Tim Richards

August 11, 2005

I never thought this could happen. I never got the chance to thank you for your patience, kindness, and support when John got taken from me. I know now you will keep John company again in heaven. You will be arguing about hockey and football. You and John will be laughing and joking while we are here crying. I am mad, bitter, angry, and sad. I will always be, but now these feelings are more, since you are gone. I pray for your wife, children and family. May God help them go on as he has with me.

Karen Novabilski
Prince George's County

August 10, 2005

Steve, it hurts everyday, but i'm making it. If I could go back in time, BROTHER you know I would. It's time to celebrate what we had for the last year and half, the bond is stronger know more than ever. Know that you have started a new MISSION I know you will continue to have my back. I said this on the 21st and I'm saying it now, it's not good-bye, because you know we're going to be side by side again one day BROTHER-MAN.

1570

S.A.T. District VI

August 4, 2005

Steve, it hurts everyday, but i'm making it. If I could go back in time, BROTHER you know I would. It's time to celebrate what we had for the last year and half, the bond is stronger know more than ever. Know that you have started a new MISSION I know you will continue to have my back. I said this on the 21st and I'm saying it now, it's not good-bye, because you know we're going to be side by side again one day BROTHER-MAN.

1570

S.A.T. District VI

August 4, 2005

STEVEN IT HAS BEEN 41 DAYS, AND I HAVE GONE TO THE PHONE AT LEAST THAT MANY TIMES TO CALL AND CHECK-IN WITH YOU.I JUST WANTED TO HEAR THAT YOUR SILLY ACCENT. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN MY HERO FROM THAT HOT APRIL DAY IN 2001 AT BOTELERS. I REMEMBER GEORGE, LAUGHING AFTER YOU LEFT AND SAYING GOD SENT YOU A ANGEL! YOUR KINDNESS MEANT EVERYTHING TO SOMEONE WHO FELT THEY WERE DROWNING.YOU WERE MY LIFEGUARD FROM THAT MOMENT ON. MY CHILDREN ADORED YOU AND WERE ALWAYS HAPPY WHEN YOU WOULD STOP BY AND ASK IF THEY WERE OK.THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND FRIENDSHIP. YOUR WIFE IS A VERY LUCKY LADY,TO HAVE HAD YOU ALTHOUGH FOR A SHORT TIME. I ALWAYS WIKLL REMEMBER YOU STOPPING BY AND HAVING TO RUN TO THE BATHROOM, OR ASKING ONE OF US TO CHECK SOMETHING ON THE COMPUTER FOR YOU. EACH TIME I HEAR A CAR OR VAN COME ONTO THE DRIVEWAY I LOOK OUT HALF EXPECTING TO SEE YOU HOPPING OUT.I GUESS GEORGE WAS RIGHT YOU WERE MY ANGEL AND GOD REALIZED YOU WERE MISSING AND BROUGHT YOU BACK HOME. THAT SOB WHO CAUSED SO MUCH PAIN FOR ALL OF US FORCED TO REMAIN WITH OUT YOU IS GOING TO HELL. KEEP SMILING THAT SMILE, YOU WEAR SO WELL.THIS COUNTY IS GOING TO HAVE TO HIRE A THOUSAND NEW RECRUITS TO COME CLOSE TO REPLACING OUR HERO. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, AND WE WILL WATCH OVER US ALL.

August 1, 2005

I can remember at the firehouse when Steve and Rich F. would come in around 3 in the morning playing ping pong all night making all kinds of sound effects. He was a great guy, I always knew if I needed to talk to someone or just had a problem I could talk to him. I can remember when I came home from the military and saw him, He had a huge smile and a great big hug to give me. I am going to really miss him.

July 29, 2005

Steve, you will be missed by all those you touched. It was a pleasure to know you and work with you on the street.I will never forget you and I pray for your family.You were a COPS, COP. God's speed.

Officer Pete Ruffin #5724
Pasadena Police, Texas

July 27, 2005

GOD BLESS YOU OFFICER STEVE GAUGHAN, FOR THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE YOU MADE FOR THE CITIZENS OF MARYLAND YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL BE IN MY THOUGHTS, HEART AND PRAYERS. I AM THE WIFE OF A RETIRED PHILA. POLICE OFFICER AND A MOTHER OF A YOUNG PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICER, AND KNOW ALL TOO WELL THE DANGERS THAT OUR OFFICERS FACE EVERY DAY IN PROTECTING ALL THE CITIZENS OF OUR NATION GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU REST IN PEACE. RESPECTFULLY, KATHI HALLIGAN PHILA., PA.

July 26, 2005

I first met Steve 16 years ago. He worked with my brother Neil Cronin at a supermarket in Walpole. Shortly after befriending Steve my brother died in a car accident. I remeber how kind Steve was to my family and Neil's girlfriend. His friendship made a sufferable time a little more bearable. My condolences to Steve's Wife, children, family and friends. I beleive that heaven must have been short an angels so God called another home. My thoughts and prayers will be with you all.

Sheelagh (Cronin) Corcoran
Braintree, MA

July 25, 2005

You are a legendary officer that will not be replaced. People like you make our agency what it is. You never sat still, you never gave up, you never failed to see the humor in everything. You knew that "to be there was the thing..."
It's pretty quiet in the station now. I guess we'll have to find someone else to cook the hamburgers and clean up after the horses on National Night Out.

Cpl. Michael Rupp #1620
PGPD

July 18, 2005