Off Duty Deaths
Not a good weekend for the Department.
- Bob Rawa, Canine Handler, passed from a brain aneurysm Friday night
- Wayne Smith, PO, died in a motorcycle accident
It's always tragic when an Officer dies in the Line of Duty - there is much pomp and circumstance to accompany the funeral. But when Officers die in the course of ordinary events or unforeseen medical emergencies, it seems to strike particularly hard.
Prayers, Well-Wishes and Remembrances only in this thread.
Prayers, Well-Wishes and Remembrances only in this thread.
Labels: officer down
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
66 Comments:
Love ya, Bobby!!
Thanks for all the laughs. You were a true friend. I'll miss ya!
Bob your smile, humor and memory will live on. You taught many coppers in the Academy "to do the right thing out there" and "have fun". I will miss you and so will the many people lives that touched. You were looked up to and admired by many and I hate to sound corny but you were a "legend". This untimely passing has shocked many and has caused many that knew you to take the time and tell someone how you feel about them. I was glad to have seen you in 018 before you left the station Thursday night and wish I took the time to chat like we have over the years. Your going to be missed and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. DJS
A very sad day, Officer Rawa was a great guy, my condolences to his family and friends who will miss him dearly.
we will miss you bobby
Police Officer Russel Timoshenko
New York City Police Department
New York
End of Watch: Saturday, July 14, 2007
Biographical Info
Age: 23
Tour of Duty: 1 year, 6 months
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Monday, July 9, 2007
Weapon Used: Handgun; .45 caliber
Suspect Info: Three apprehended
Officer Timoshenko succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained five days earlier as he and his partner made a traffic stop of a vehicle.
The two officers were on patrol when they spotted a suspicious vehicle. A check of DMV records revealed that the license plate on the vehicle belonged to another vehicle. The officers conducted a traffic stop at the corner of Lefferts Avenue and Rogers Avenue, in Brooklyn. Unknown to the officers, the vehicle they had stopped was stolen.
Officer Timoshenko approached the vehicle from the passenger side as his partner approached from the driver's side. As they drew near the car, one suspect opened fire with a .45 caliber handgun, striking Officer Timoshenko twice in the face. Another suspect opened fire on Officer Timoshenko's partner with a 9mm handgun, striking him in the arm and chest. That officer was saved by his bullet resistant vest and, despite his wounds, he was able to return fire and radio his location and a description of the vehicle to fellow officers.
Members of the Brooklyn South Homicide squad, who were in the area investigating an unrelated case, arrived on the scene within seconds and rushed Officer Timoshenko to Kings County Hospital.
The suspects fled, but ditched their vehicle about five blocks from the shooting scene, leaving behind their .45 caliber handgun, 9mm handgun and a loaded 9mm TEC-9. Investigators were able to lift a fingerprint from a box of chicken left in the vehicle, which led to the arrest of the vehicle's driver the following day.
Two days later detectives from the New York City Police Department, along with members of the Pennsylvania State Police, United States Marshals Service and several other agencies, arrested both suspects long I-80 in Monroe County, Pennsylvania.
All three suspects where charged with aggravated murder and other charges related to the murder of Officer Timoshenko and the wounding of his partner.
Officer Timoshenko had served with the New York City Police Department for 1.5 years and was assigned to the 71st Precinct. He was survived by his parents.
Agency Contact Information
New York City Police Department
1 Police Plaza
Room 1320
New York, NY 10038
Phone: (646) 610-6700
Rest easy brothers. May God welcome you with open arms.
Bob was my HRI in the academy back in 1995. He was a class act. He will truly be missed.
RIP Bobby. Way to young. You were always a bundle of energy. God Bless you and the other former Englewood Rangers who have recently left us way to early: Fran (Rickert) Tandyke, Gary Dubin, Jill Elliott, Warren McGlaughlin, and Tim McCaliff.
Wayne, always could count on you to do what it took to do the job; one of the best undercovers in the unit. Always had a smile, great person, excellent cop, loyal friend, one of the very few that knew what this was all about, you will be sorely missed...Godspeed my friend, rest peacefully!
Same here.
Good guy..the best
Rest in Peace Bob Rawa. Thanks for taking the time to send me a card recently when I was laid up. I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to thank you. - Pat J
Good Guys! The both of them. May God Bless and Keep.
Bob,
I worked with you my first two nights on the street, a very sad day I will remember you in my prayers.
J. Graham
god speed.........brothers
God Bless both Officers,their families and friends. Please continue to walk the beat and look down upon your brothers and sisters in blue. R.I.P.
I was in Englewood years ago, I did not know about Jill and Franny.
When did they pass?
RIP Bobby You were always a HOOT!
Bobby Rawa was, by far, one of the greatest guys I've ever met. He always managed to make people smile coming and going with his special form of wit.
He was generous, both with his time and his money. He contributed to every worthwhile cause out there, and I personally have knowledge of at least one person he helped out financially who was going through some tough times.
I had the pleasure of having Bob work for me in the mid 90's. He was certainly a supervisor's challenge! With that sense of humor, it was difficult to be angry with him for very long. Somehow it was just easier to say, "well, that's Bobby", than to get worked up over whatever.
Don't let his carefree attitude fool you...this was one hell of a working copper. He's the only guy I know of who got audited for his comp time and ended up being OWED hours due to a clerical mistake. The auditors were super-pissed about that one! They couldn't understand how he had so much time on the books...but one look at his stats and his subpoenas told the story. (He had so much time on the books from court that he actually took to saving all of his subpoenas and court notifications in his home filing cabinet to make the auditor's job easier!)
During his single days he was the biggest skirt-chaser I've ever seen. But when he was engaged/married, he was strictly a one-woman guy. Mom always said if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all...so I won't comment on his first wife. Let's just say Bobby took that one on the chin like a man. He remarried a wonderful girl and was so proud of his little ones! Like I said, this was a guy who knew how to settle down and concentrate on being a family man.
I've never met a guy who worked his balls off like Bobby did. I once asked him why he took all those part-time jobs and he told me it was because he wanted to be a millionaire before he was 50, then lay back and take it easy and enjoy his family. I don't know if he made the millionaire thing or not, but it wouldn't suprise me!
I know for a fact that he was happy and content being a canine handler. I once asked him how far he wanted to go on this job...dick, sergeant, lieutenant? He told me his only ambition was to be a canine handler. Bless you, Bobby, you got your wish and you were damn good at your job.
I was numb when I heard that Bobby had died. So full of life and energy. I wonder if he knew just how many lives he touched?
Rest in peace my friend. I will miss you.
REST IN PEACE
PO RUSSELL TOMESHENKO, NYPD
PO BOB RAWA and the Englewood Officers
Bobby had a gift of gab and told it like it was, with humor. What a joyful spot in the academy. R.I.P Bob, godspeed
May God welcome our brothers home.............my prayers are with the families..........
I pray for these officers. I also pray their funerals are not on the south side because Im sure the commander of 022 will not send a car to honor them. I guess it dosent matter, we will be there for them and their families even if the exempts wont.
Any word on services? God Bless both men and their families. Many tears will fall regarding these deaths.
I remember the few times that we worked together in 007 we made a good pinch and always had many a good laugh. You will be missed by all Bobby. M.A.
on my way to Mass, both officers and theire families will be in my prayers!
Thanks SCC for this thread! Both great Guys Great officers Bob You were always happy and made me laugh! Watch over us brothers from you perch up high! GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES IN THIS TRAGIC TIME! GOD SPEED BROTHERS YOU WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN AND REMEMBERED ALWAYS!
may the good lord greet both officers with open arms. every life, no matter how short changes the world forever. GOD bless and rest in peace. YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. :-(
Yet ANOTHER illegal killing someone DUI. Daley, his blood is on your hands.
Please post the arrangements, if known yet.
Rest in Peace Wayne, you will be missed. I can't remember a day when you did not have a smile on your face.
Signed,
Former 003rd District Coworker
Bobby-
I'll miss you in the mornings at the Academy buddy, making fun of the "old timers", it wont be the same without you
Bob Rawa was a nice guy.
Anonymous said...
RIP Bobby. Way to young. You were always a bundle of energy. God Bless you and the other former Englewood Rangers who have recently left us way to early: Fran (Rickert) Tandyke, Gary Dubin, Jill Elliott, Warren McGlaughlin, and Tim McCaliff.
7/15/2007 01:45:00 AM
Unfortunately add to the above list 2 more great guys from 007 Pete Borg and Freddie Stocker.
I'll miss you too Bobby Rawa "Da General", "Da Comp Time King". We had some good laughs together Brother. I won't forget Ya.
To the Families of Bob Rawa and Wayne Smith, Jr.,
My deepest sympathies and condolences. My thoughts and prayers go out to you. May God ease your suffering and may you come to know the love and support of the CPD Family during your time of crisis.
Bob Rawa :class all the way a real
gentleman,
Rest In Peace Bobby and Wayne.
Myself and my families prayers are with those officers and their families.
A Chicago man accused of killing an off-duty Chicago Police officer who was headed to buy a birthday present for his daughter was ordered held on $300,000 bond Sunday.
Manuel Puga, 22, was legally drunk and had cocaine and marijuana in his system when the SUV he was driving hit Officer Wayne J. Smith Jr. as he rode his motorcycle through Bridgeport late Friday, Asst. State's Atty. Tracy Senica told Cook County Bond Court Judge Raymond Myles Sunday.
-----------------------------------
A big thank you to the US Federal Government for not sealing our borders!
REST IN PEACE- MY BROTHERS!!
NYPD Officer Russel Tomeshenko
K9 Officer Bob Rawa
Officer Wayne Smith
Rest in peace & God bless...
My thoughts go out to both families in their sudden and tragic loss! I went through the Academy in 1997, as a suburban recruit, but we had Bob for some classes. He was great! Nicest guy ever! Would talk to us about all sorts of things, just a real class act. He will be missed by many!!
Also Englewood Ranger wagon man, Pete Borg, died this week.
He was in the Academy as an instructor when I was a recruit. Rawa was a true nut, but a positive in our very stressful days. He was back there when I became an instructor. He taught me more than I could have imagined. Most importantly, he told me never let them see you sweat, even when shit is real fucked up!!! Laugh
Retired VCD Narcotics Sgt.Dick Powers died Sat. July, 14th. Dick was 83. Arrangements are pending.
I will miss both guys they were both class acts. The poster from earlier who said that Dubes, Jill and the rest will be missed was right but at least Bobby will have good company and they might even let Mike O' Neal be the Desk Sgt. for St. Peter *smile* Both will be missed, peace be unto their ashes.
Condolences to all who have recently passed away. Don't forget to buy a ticket to the annual Eric Lee picnic/fundraiser (even if you do ont plan to attend).
Add to the list of rememberance the only 720 in many peoples hearts----Sgt. Curtis Bonds.
I am very sorry for your loss.
My thoughts and prayers are with the CPD and friends and family of both K9 Officer Rawa and P/O Smith. May they rest in peace.
Condolences also sent out to the NYPD and friends and family of Officer Timoshenko. May he also rest in peace.
Bobby will be waked at 6250 N Milwaukee from 1500-2100 hrs on tues, 17 Jul 07. Wojehecski funeral home. Sorry about the spelling--
To: 07-15-2007 07:42 AM. Frannie passed away over a year ago. Jill passed away last month. Both died of breast cancer.
Sgt. Curtis Bonds
A true man!!
A coppers boss. He was black and phenomonal to ANY COPPER.
Put his kids through Yale and Harvard. One's a doctor, the other a lawyer. He told bosses to get
f&%ked faster than any blue shirt.
Englewood was a great place to work. All of these names bring smiles. What a tremendous group.
God bless all of them!!
bob rawa had the biggest heart i'v ever seen on this job. may everyone who knew him take a piece of him and try to be more like him. honest, trustworthy, and the best sense of humor a man could ever have. he was also a very good friend to me, i will miss him every day until i join him. rest with the angels bob, we love you.
God bless you Wayne may the angels smile on you.
J. Graham
I didnt know Wayne Smith or
NYPD P.O. Tomenshenko but I am deeply saddened by their passing R.I.P My heart goes out to your family.
Bobby I am crushed! He was a great guy who really cares about coppers. God bless you and your family.
Worked in Englewood in the mid 80's to the mid 90's. Looking back now I really miss those old days. Great, great people and bosses. We rotated in those days and had very close watches. We also had a ton of fun. This was before CAPS and straight watches. I couldn't wait for straight watches to start back then, but now I miss closeness we had when we rotated. So long Booby. See hello to Jill and Frannie, two great girls.
When I was told of Bob's death by my old partner, I was in complete shock. I had spoken to him less than a week before he died. All he could talk about was his family and his kids.
I met Bob in 1989. He was in my academy class and I consider that one of the best times of my life. I remeber the first day when lunchtime rolled around and Bob was the first to speak up and ask where we wanted to go for lunch. Bob brought the group that I hung out with together. There were so many good times that I had forgotten about until I heard of his passing. I remebered things that I hadn't recalled in over 10 years.
For those of you who never got the chance to meet Bob, I can only say that you missed one of the special men that God had placed on this earth. I never heard anybody say a bad word about him. I was honored to have him consider me as a friend. He was there in times that were good and times that were bad. Thanx for 17 and a half years of fun. I will never forget you as long as I live. Grundy's Goons will miss you. TD 89-2B.
For those of you who never got the chance to meet Bob, I can only say that you missed one of the special men that God had placed on this earth. I never heard anybody say a bad word about him.
I got goose bumps reading your post, and all I can say is AMEN TO THAT!
Bobby Wa - you are already missed. I'll pray for your family and for the many, many friends that you left behind.
You left us way too soon!
Bobby Rawa, Thanks for being MY FRIEND. When you saw me finally make the Department, you were so proud of me. You were always a great support I will sorely miss you my friend, may GOD keep you in the palm of his hand, may you rest in peace.
Bob you will be missed. God Bless
KM
"WRITE THIS DOWN"!!!
Bobby, you made the academy time fun for our class. You were and will always be the best homeroom instructor. Also, thanks for all the parties you organized. All of us in 018 will miss you. 98-9A
I teach with Bob at the Academy. I use the present tense, because he will always be with us. Keep your smile up Rawa. God bless you and your family.
I do not know Wayne Smith, but my toughts and prayers also go out to his family. God bless your family.
May GOD Bless both of our fallen bretheren along with our brothers in the NYPD.
Rest In Peace
Remember Our Thin Blue Line
Bob Rowa was the type of person that more policemen should try to become. He was just one of those well-rounded individuals that was able to connect with everyone. I was blessed by having him as my home room instructor. peace and love to his family and close friends.
Even if the name doesn't sound familiar, all these posts will ring a bell of who Bob Rawa is. A familiar face, a guy who could strike a conversation and have you laughing in seconds. When I heard he passed, all of my encounters with him came to mind. What a great guy, its hard to imagine why this happened. I've always thought, man this guy really has it together. What a shame, God Bless you Bobby.
"TESTADO" - (state test question)
Bobby - you were the best, I am very sad about your passing but someday we will meet again and have that long awaited beer at IRA's...
gonna miss u wayne..rest in peace
i have know you for many years all the way from high school to cpd.
condolences to your family....
Police Officer Wayne J. Smith Jr., Star#13345, assigned to Narcotics and Gang Investigation Section, passed away 13 July 2007. Visitation at A.A. Rayner, 318 E. 71st. St., 20 Jul., 1600 hours. Waked at Trinity United Church of Christ, 400 W. 95th St., 21 Jul., 1000-1100 hours. St. Jude will meet at 1030 hours. Services to follow. Interment Washington Memorial Gardens.
One last good bye Bobby.
I'll do anything I can to help Linda and the Kids (Holly and Walter)!!
Love,
Cesar
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