Facebook groups honor memory of slain officer

Late Friday night, Creighton Rabs was inspired to form a Facebook group in memory of Philadelphia Police Officer John Pawlowski, who had been shot to death that evening.

Volunteer firefighter Matt Keller, 17, also went to Facebook when he heard the news.

Thousands of people followed.

Keller, a junior at Haverford High School, wanted to show the family "how much we care and support them and to show respect to the officer." His Facebook group, "Rest in Peace Officer John Pawlowski," had about 12,200 members last night.

He logged onto Facebook early Saturday, as soon as he learned about the slaying. "I saw how horrible this was," said the Brookline firefighter. "It was the least I could do. I wanted to help out in some way."

Rabs, 35, a crime and courts blogger in West Chester, joined Facebook a few weeks ago and decided to use the social-networking site to create a place where supporters could offer condolences - and, in some cases, outrage - about Pawlowski's death.

As of yesterday afternoon, more than 9,400 people had joined Rabs' group, called "In Memory of Ofc. John Pawlowski (PPD #5649)."

How many people are members of both groups could not be immediately determined.

Rabs' Facebook page shows that he formed his group at 10:54 p.m. Friday. Pawlowski, 25, was pronounced dead at Albert Einstein Medical Center at 8:44 p.m. after being shot around 8 p.m. at the intersection of Broad Street and Olney Avenue.

Rabs recalled when a cousin, Robert Dana, a police officer in the Boston area, was killed in the line of duty in 1984. He remembered his father getting the call on a Sunday afternoon in March. "That's just a memory I can't get out of my mind," Rabs said.

One of the first comments posted in the group came from a longtime friend of Pawlowski's family. "Rip Johnny with your Mother Renee We love you," wrote Patty Sullivan.

"When you see a Police officer give them a hug and show them the love they deserve," wrote Michael Phillips.

Others expressed anger and bewilderment.

"This must end!!! When will the courts and judges finally keep these criminals where they belong," asked Arlene Gontarek.

Seven Philadelphia police officers have been killed in the line of duty over the last three years.

"With each one, the anger is just building and building and building," said Rabs, whose blog is at www.wcunplugged.com.

On both Facebook groups, someone has been posting a photo of what appears to be a police motorcycle accident and the superimposed words: "The only good cop . . . is a dead one!"

Rabs and Keller say they are trying to be vigilant about these posts, deleting them when they can.

The photos advertise a Web site for Michael Crook, an Internet agitator who calls Pawlowski's alleged killer, Rasheed Scrugs, a "hero."

"This crosses the line," Rabs said.

One Facebook member, Nils Kristian Johannessen, seemed to sum up the sentiment of many supporters.

"Thanks for trying to make Philadelphia a safer place to live, work and visit," he wrote, ". . . as impossible as it seems."