Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Johnny,
We really miss you. I am not sure why you came to mind today. You are never far from our thoughts. You would be so proud to see Pat's kids. He misses you more than words can describe. He channels all of the love he has for you as a brother and a friend and put it into them. That is a lot of love and it really shows.
God bless you!
Eva

Eva Wakefield
Friend

September 9, 2008

The First Day
February 28th, 1994, Prince George’s County Police Officer, Corporal John Bagileo was killed in an automobile accident while responding to a crime scene. Cpl. Bagileo’s cruiser caught fire after striking a utility pole. Those were the details reported by the newspaper. There was another story that never made the papers. My version of the story is different from the papers; mine is the story of John’s last cry.

The Second Day
At the time of the accident I was working in Washington D.C. as a federal employee. I lived in John’s neighborhood, six doors away from him on the same side of the street. Both of us had an end unit. We were cordial with one another on the street. John and I would wave and say hello. He was married with a young daughter, Lauren. John was a devoted husband and father, and he was very loyal to the Catholic faith.
When I got home from work the day after John's accident I noticed four police cruisers parked at the end of my street, a dead end. This seemed odd to me, but I did not make the connection right away. I remember thinking, “John must have some friends visiting.” When I got in the house and started talking to my wife Cindy, it hit me. My neighbor, John, was the officer killed in the automobile accident last night.
My wife and I suddenly became very upset. We had to get out of the house so we went shopping. When we returned home from shopping Cindy went immediately upstairs. Our home is a three level townhouse in a community of three level townhouses. As I stood in my rec-room crying, I got the feeling that someone was standing outside of my back gate watching me. When I turned to look, the feeling was gone. A few minutes later I went upstairs to the second floor, and I went into the kitchen with Cindy. My wife told me she saw someone outside of our back gate when she looked out of the kitchen window. Cindy saw this person outside while I was down in the rec-room crying, but she couldn’t tell who was out there.
I walked into the living room still crying a little, and I sat down on the floor. I didn’t eat that night. In fact, Cindy & I fasted for three days. After I stopped crying, Cindy came into the living room. We began to talk about the entity that we both felt was outside of our house. We both had religious experiences in our past. We both felt John, having no where else to go, had returned to Early Glow Lane. This was his home on earth, and his wife & young daughter were at the end of the street morning his death.
A short time later John returned to the parameter of our home, this time outside the front door. It was at this moment that John made a spiritual connection with me. I could see him in my mind, and we would soon begin speaking telepathically. I could see John standing outside of my front door; the snow was falling around him. He was peaking around the corner and looking down the street toward his house.
I could feel John’s disbelief, his grief. He could not understand how his life was so abruptly taken from him. John was standing in our flower bed right next to the front door. He raised his left arm up to his head, leaned against the face of our house, and began to cry.
As John began to cry, so did I. We cried together for a long time before I heard him speak to me. The image of John standing outside of my front door crying will live forever in my mind.
The first thing John said to me was, “I can’t believe it! My life was just beginning to go exactly as I wanted. I was so happy.” All I could say was, “I know.” John didn’t understand how I could hear him, but he was comforted to have someone to talk to during his time of great sadness. I could feel his grief, not for himself, but for those he had left behind. John and I continued to cry.
When our crying finally slowed, I looked up and saw my wife was crying too. She stood up and asked me for a hug, and I hugged her tightly. John & I began to cry harder again. John said to me, “I will never be able to hug my wife, Nancy, or my daughter, Lauren again.” This time I managed a little more. I told John, “I know. It must hurt very badly.” When our hug ended I sat back down on the floor and cried with John some more. The concept of time as I know it disappeared. John & I cried together for three hours if we cried for a minute. When our crying was finally over, I felt a bond with John. We formed a friendship in spirit that I could never have achieved in life.
The tears were dry on my face. Now it was my turn to speak, “John, I saw you outside. I have that picture in my mind. I can paint it, I can paint you.” John said, “Thank you. Will you show it to Nancy and Lauren when you are done?” I answered him, “I will give her the picture. I promise you.” John seemed pleased and he may have even smiled for a second.
I did not sleep much that night. John was walking a beat up and down our street right through the rows of townhouses. I was lying in bed in awe again. John was walking through the first floor of each house. He was walking down the street towards his house on my side of the street, and back up the street through the houses on the other side. I could feel him pass through our house every two or three minutes. An angel was guarding our street that night. He was walking his last beat; watching over his family. Sometime after four in the morning I drifted off to sleep.

The Third Day
John did return to Early Glow Lane on that third night. I could sense his presence. He stood at a different spot that night; a mound of dirt which has since been leveled off for more townhouses. John was standing alone away from all of the houses. He was done crying. John was waiting for the angels to come down and escort him to heaven. Until that time he would simply stare at his home where his wife and child dwelled. John was looking at the front corner of his house. He was looking at his front door, his living room where Nancy was, and at the bedroom on the third floor where his little girl slept. I know it is a better place where he is going, but leaving your loved ones behind is very difficult.
Every time I have experienced death on an emotional and spiritual level I hear a song in my head. And so it was with John’s death. Soon after learning of his death and through to the funeral I repeatedly heard a song in my head. The song was, “Take me up to the spirit in the sky” by Norman Greenbaum. That is why I know in my heart John is in Heaven. On that third day when the lightning flashed and the thunder roared; John went up to the spirit in the sky.
Nancy, my promise to John goes unfulfilled. I lost track of you over the years and now the painting of John haunts me to look at. Please contact me so I can properly present this painting to you and keep the promise I made to John so long ago. Lauren is a teenager and I want you to have this painting before she goes to college. Perhaps I could give it to you during the yearly officer memorial. Forgive me for losing track of you and Lauren.
Sincerely, Tpr. II David S. Perschy, NJSP
[email protected]

Trooper II David S. Perschy
New Jersey State Police

May 27, 2008

May you always rest in peace and know that you will never be forgotten.

Cpl/1 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police

February 28, 2008

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family on this anniversary.

Former N.H. Police Officer
Fauquier County, Va

February 28, 2008

YOU ARE REMEMBERED TODAY AND THANK YOUU SIR FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND SERVICE

VANDENBERGHE
MANCHESTER, NH

February 21, 2008

"The Badge"

He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.

He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.

Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.

He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.

His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.

He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.

And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.

But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.

Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.

Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.

So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.

In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.

Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.

Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

February 18, 2008

Hey buddy, I just wanted to talk to you for a minute, I never got a chance to say goodbye. When I found out you were killed in that car accident I was devastated. I still think about you daily and whenever I walk into District III Station, I see the picture of you, your wonderful wife and your precious daughter. Remember when me, you and Ernie used to chase all the drug boys down in Seat Pleasant. Being the police for us in the early 90's was the best job in the world but things changed. Ernie got married but his wife later died in a car accident. He was never the same after that and he had to leave the department. I'm at District VI now just waiting to retire. Things aren't the same and the department has changed drastically. I remember when you made corporal, you were one of the youngest corporals on the department and I was so proud of you. I remember when I saw you off duty and my wife at the time and I were moving. You and your wife were having a birthday party for your beautiful daughter that day and you still offered to help us move. You were always an unselfish person. Even when God was preparing you to die, you swerved out of the way to ensure that only you died and no one else. ALWAYS AN UNSELFISH PERSON. I know your one of God's top leuitenants, put a word in for me!

Pfc. Denny Washington #1714

Pfc. Denny Washington#1714
Squad member & friend

January 17, 2008

John - We miss you!!!!

Best Friend

February 28, 2007

Thinking of you and your loved ones on this 13th anniversary of your EOW. You have not been forgotten as true heroes never die. Keep watch over your loved ones and those still out on patrol.

Bob Gordon
Father of Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

February 28, 2007

May you Rest in Peace.

February 28, 2007

My thoughts are with your loved ones during this holiday season as I know around Christmas it can get depressing. You are a true hero and heroes never die, you will never be forgotten. Keep watch over your loved ones

Bob Gordon
Father of Fallen Officer: Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

December 14, 2006

To the family and friends of Sergeant John Bagileo:

On this the twelth anniversary of
his tragic death, I wanted to honor John's memory. On behalf of our entire family, I extend our sincerest condolences on the grievous loss you sustained when Sgt.Bagileo was killed in the line of duty.

This is a pain that never goes away for those who loved and cared for him.

May you all continue to be comforted and supported by your law enforcement family, and by other police survivors who share this painful journey with you.

John's valor and dedication will always be revered and honored. May he rest in peace.



Phyllis Loya, mother of Larry Lasater, Pittsburg Police Dept. eow 4/24/05

February 28, 2006

John - I can not believe it has been 12 years. You are greatly missed and always in my prays. You are still very much a part of my life. I tell my boy’s John and Nicholas stories about you all the time. My son John your “God son” sleeps with your baby blanket almost every night. We will never forget you….. Patrick Billingsley

Patrick S. Billingsley
Best Friend

February 28, 2006

John, It has been a long time since we worked together in Ocean City. You had the ability to make me laugh all the time. You must have gotten that from your devoted years at our High School, Good Counsel. I know you are watching over us and having a good laugh.
Eddy

Sgt. Edward C. Schreier
Worcester County Sheriff's office

June 24, 2005

John, It has been 11 years since you left us. It is a hard time since Steve has died and it brings up a lot of memories. You are always in my thoughts and I know you are looking down on us and protecting us.

Nancy- Wife of John Bagileo

June 23, 2005

Dear John,
I am proud to have been your F.T.O when you came to District 2. You were a good policeman and I'll always remember the Christmas Eve that we slipped away to have venison chili with my wife and kids before heading back to the streets. God Bless You.
Tony

Cpl. Tony Masino
Prince George's County Police Department

June 21, 2005