Officer Down, #209

[Radar]

:cry: :evil: 02/26/2006
I don't have all of the details; I just got off the graveyard shift and was grabbed by a sergeant on the way out... Officer Greg Bailey, 14664 was run down by a dui driver last night. The only details I have are that Bailey succumbed to his injuries at the hospital and the errant idiot was placed in custody at the hospital. Apparently Bailey, a motor officer, was on a stop when he and the vehicle he had stopped were hit. I don't have any more details than that. Bailey was a classmate... He was the A Co. Commander for CTC IV-95...

If any one has any further, more accurate details, it would be greatly appreciated...

[Mac]

I don't have all the details, but he had finished his shift and was on his way home when he made a stop, n/b I-15 near the top of Cajon Pass. He was struck and killed by the DUI driver while on the stop.

Godspeed - another guardian to patrol the streets of Heaven.

[SB 405]

My God you guys just had a funeral and now another Officer has paid the price. What can I say that I haven't said five other times since joining the forum....I'm very sorry.

[NorCalN00b]

My God you guys just had a funeral and now another Officer has paid the price. What can I say that I haven't said five other times since joining the forum....I'm very sorry.
That's just the life of a police officer :sad:

[Your Mentor]

What office was he out of?

[23109]

Probably San Bernardino, if he was going Northbound on the 15 toward Victorville.

I did my first ride-along out of that office.

[RodeoChippie]

The graveyard car said this morning he was from the Rancho Cucamonga office.

[motabella]

Date of Death 02-25-06 (Saturday night)

Gregory John Bailey, # 14664
Known to his friends as "John"
DOB: 06/17/69 (age 36)
Sworn/CHP Academy Graduation: 05/10/96

Assignments:

CHP Academy - 11/95 - 05/96
CHP Barstow Area - 05/96 - 12/00
CHP Rancho Cucamonga - 12/00 - present

Survived by:

Wife: Teresa L. Bailey
4 children: Daughters Hanna (10), Megan 8- and Sons Jared (6), Dylan (5)
Parents: Father Len and his Mother Layonne

John had completed "B" watch (afternoon shift) and was en route home (Victorville), northbound on I-15, north of Oak Hills Road, and made an enforcement stop on a violator's vehicle. John made a right side approach to speak with the driver of the vehicle he had stopped. A D.U.I. driver in 1991 Honda, Accord drove onto the right shoulder at a high rate of speed, struck the CHP motorcycle, the violator's vehicle and John. The violator's vehicle was struck with such force it overturned, landing in the freeway traffic lanes. Mercy Air (ambulance) transported all three parties to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (Colton, CA). John died from his injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital. The DUI driver, Mr. Domingo Esqueda, age 20, of Adelanto, CA reportedly had a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit.

Funeral arrangement are pending.

[NorCalN00b]

Why isn't this on the news??

[Cameron]

I hate, hate, hate DUI drivers.

What injuries did Mr. Esqueda have?:mad: :mad:

[TheForceCHP]

Why isn't this on the news??

just saw a preview for it.

my prayers are with the family

[bcjack]

My condolances to Officer Bailey's Family and his CHP Brothers and Sisters.

[bcjack]

Quoted From 66 Cadets Graduate Posting:

For Elk Grove's Mary Bailey, the importance of the day could not be overstated.

"It's the biggest day of my life," Bailey said.

Bailey and the 65 other cadets are getting their badges during an unprecedented string of violence against the CHP. Five officers have been killed in the line of duty in the last five months.

Are these two Officers related???

[TheForceCHP]

Channel 7 just reported that:

Bailey just came back from Iraq
The man he pulled over was for suspicion of DUI

[snowdog]

www.cbs2.com has the story
The black band goes back on
when will this end?

[UH60RAT]

I served with John in Iraq. He was a maintenance supervisor for our Black Hawk Battalion. He made it through Iraq unscathed only to be taken out by a drunk. He always told me how much he loved the CHP and especially riding a motor. He will be sorely missed by all of his military and CHP brothers....God speed John.

[makakona]

this was on officer bailey's odmp page. our thoughts and prayers are with his sweet family.

ITS SOUNDS LIKE THUNDER FAR AWAY...

It sounds like thunder far away, but the skies are blue and bright...
And soon they crest the hill nearby, and ride into our sight.
They shake the ground with powerful sound, and they make some hearts beat fast...
They look so proud and noble, like Knights come from the past.

Side by side, they always ride, and seem to move as one...
From early in the morning light, to the setting of the sun.
And children point and wave to them, from cars that pass them by...
And young ones ask their parents, why the men have mirrors for eyes.

They ride the roads, and fight for good, and defend small ones like you...
They ask to ride, and do with pride, and sometimes they are few.
Like men of steel, on Silver Wings, they sparkle in the light...
then with a roar and rumble, they ride out of our sight.

Sometimes when one has fallen, never to ride again...
You can hear the others calling, like thunder on the wind.
Side by side, they slowly ride, and their thunder is a mournful sound...
And the mirrors hide their eyes from us, when teardrops fall to ground.

So if you see one riding, and you look into his face...
You see your reflection in his eyes, you know that you are safe.
For motormen are a special breed, they love to ride the wind...
And when you hear the thunder boom, the fallen ones ride again.

By

Author Unknown

[K-Lo]

My prayers and condolences to Officer Bailey's family and fellow officers.

[redhead]

My prayers go out to the family of Officer Bailey and the entire CHP family.

[4CHP]

My prayers go out to the family of Officer Bailey and the entire CHP family.

Please add mine as well...:cry:

[pp48n]

Words cannot describe the sadness in my heart. From all of the officers of the NYPD 81Pct Bedstuy Brooklyn our condolence's.

[pupdog]

Please, everyone, officer or not, be careful.
Do we know how the person he pulled over is doing? That person also deserved to make it home safe, which is why s/he was pulled over in the 1st place.
My condolences as well.

[NorCalN00b]

That's just the life of a police officer
*Edit* A moderator of this forum (I won't list the moderator's name because I respect his privacy) found my comment to be "offensive" even though it wasn't meant to bad mouth police officers. I will retype my comment to make things more clearer.

My heart weeps hearing about another one of California's finest being killed in the line of duty protecting me. Good people are the ones who always die first. You'll always hear about Police Officers, Firefighters, Soldiers, etc... being killed while saving lives.

[jeremyscreek]

NorCal
I didn't take offense to your post. I understood what you were trying to say. You said something very similar to what a prominent face of this department stated after the unfortunate loss of the officer out of Modesto. Sadly, this is too common of an incident. In a perfect world this would never happen. In reality, seeing fellow officers who we care about being killed or hurt is part of our life. Seeing people, in general, being killed or hurt is part of our life. All I can say is that feelings can be a little sensetive after these things because these incidents remind us of how easily it could have been us. I, along with other officers, appreciate your caring.

[NorCalN00b]

NorCal
I didn't take offense to your post. I understood what you were trying to say. You said something very similar to what a prominent face of this department stated after the unfortunate loss of the officer out of Modesto. Sadly, this is too common of an incident. In a perfect world this would never happen. In reality, seeing fellow officers who we care about being killed or hurt is part of our life. Seeing people, in general, being killed or hurt is part of our life. All I can say is that feelings can be a little sensetive after these things because these incidents remind us of how easily it could have been us. I, along with other officers, appreciate your caring.
That's exactly what I was trying to say here. I hope the moderator(s) won't think I'm an "anti-cop" or a "cop hater". Sometimes I may type things that maybe easily misread/misunderstood by other members. (My english just plain sucks sometimes, english is my second language even though I was born & raised here in San Francisco). I would like to become a Police Officer myself someday.

Sorry for off-topic. RIP Officer Bailey :-(

[dw]

That's just the life of a police officer
*Edit* A moderator of this forum (I won't list the moderator's name because I respect his privacy) found my comment to be "offensive" even though it wasn't meant to bad mouth police officers. I will retype my comment to make things more clearer.

My heart weeps hearing about another one of California's finest being killed in the line of duty protecting me. Good people are the ones who always die first. You'll always hear about Police Officers, Firefighters, Soldiers, etc... being killed while saving lives.



a) It was me that contacted NorCalN00b

b) Smiley or not, I don't think saying "That's just the life of a police officer" is an appropriate response to a death. I do understand the intent was not to be derogatory.

c) Your comments on another LE site played a role in my opinion.

d) End of discussion, this thread does not need to be degraded with this diversion.

[bcjack]

Several news stations reported that the CHP was going to "Stand Down" for two days...What does that mean???

[undertow999]

Several news stations reported that the CHP was going to "Stand Down" for two days...What does that mean???
This explains it
http://www.chpforums.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=584

[bcjack]

Thanks undertow...

[gofly]

Please add my thoughts and best wishes for this officers family as well as all of the other men and women working hard to protect the rest of us.

There needs to be MUCH MUCH harsher sentences for drunk drivers. I feel that if you drive drunk (if you are in an accident or not) you should lose your license for at least a year. Or maybe something much worse...

good luck...be safe

[Welpe]

I saw a group of CHP officers tonight out front of Starbucks while I was working. Seeing the black bands on their stars really made my heart sink.

[ORI# 1976]

August 3, 2007 - 11:51AM
VICTORVILLE — The widow of a fallen California Highway patrol officer asked the man who killed him who was going to walk her daughters down the aisle and teach her sons to become honorable men.

Domingo Esqueda, the illegal immigrant who hit and killed CHP officer Gregory John Bailey in 2006 while drunk, was sentenced to 10 years Friday morning, but not before hearing the impact his crime had on the friends and family of the officer.


“I relive John’s death in my nightmares,” said Teresa Bailey. “My children have been sentenced to a life without their father.”
She, Bailey’s mother, best friend and a fellow officer spoke to a packed courtroom, half full of CHP officers struggling to hold back their emotions, about what John meant to them.

“I wish Mr. Esqueda could feel the pain that John felt as he lay on the side of the highway with 11 broken ribs, lacerations to his liver, spleen and kidneys, contusion and bleeding in both lungs and blood filling his abdomen,” Teresa said.

A long-time friend of Bailey’s also spoke. Mike Walker said that Bailey’s mom called him son and they had known each other for most of their lives.

“The true measure of that tragedy cannot be known,” said Officer Mike Hootman, who worked with John. “When you look into Teresa Bailey’s eyes, when you hold any of John’s four young children, when you physically feel the grief and pain of John’s parents, you know that no amount of jail time, no amount of penance and no amount of remorse will ever be enough to completely repair the shattered pieces of their lives.”

Esqueda, 21, was given the maximum sentence for gross vehicular manslaughter as part of a plea agreement reached last week.
A charge of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury, which carries an eight-month sentence, was dropped.

In February 2006, Officer Bailey, 36, of the Rancho Cucamonga CHP pulled over a truck on his way home to Adelanto.

As he was talking to the driver, Esqueda’s car veered off of the northbound lane of Interstate 15 striking Bailey. He died due to his injuries less than an hour later. Esqueda had three times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood.

Teresa said that two months ago, she offered Esqueda the midterm sentence, 6 years, 8 months because she didn’t think that she could continue to drag it out in court.

Esqueda refused, only to plead to the maximum sentence last week.

Esqueda, who used an interpreter while in court, showed little emotion during the sentencing. He had his lawyer, Alejo Lugo, speak for him. Lugo said that Esqueda felt a great deal of remorse and prays every night for forgiveness.

Esqueda has 787 days credit for time served. Deputy District Attorney Steve Sinfield said that he will likely serve at least seven years of his sentence depending on his behavior in prison.

The Rancho Cucamonga CHP will hold a memorial for Bailey on Aug. 7.

Ryan Orr may be reached at 951-6277 or rorr@vvdailypress.com.

[Chippysgt]

Doesn't sound like justice to me...........................There should be a 20 year enhancement to gross vehicular manslaughter if the victim is an on-duty lawman.

[makakona]

i'm fighting tears something fierce. i think it's disgusting. i know the majority of people disagree, but i just don't see why people are charged with manslaughter for dui fatals. it's a slippery slope (the drinking, i mean), i guess, and people can't judge it? i just figure, hey, you know when you start drinking what the risks are. i know, i know... my husband and i argue over this all of the time. it's too close to home for me. my granddad, an amazing man, was checking his mail at his house when a drunk driver hit him. he was dragged over 200 yards down the street and left to die. i'll never get over that and i'll never have anything but a whole lot of pent-up anger and hatred over drunk driving.

my heart breaks for the bailey family. i remember how raw and vulnerable i felt when officer bailey was murdered. "if it can happen to him/them..."

and then in january, my husband was involved in a similar accident. he had someone stopped and a jackass of a drunk (fourth dui, by the way, and those are only the ones where he got caught) plowed his car into my husband's car, literally missing my husband by something like two feet. (his car was in the middle of a standard shoulder and my husband was in the space between the car and the shoulder, so do the math... or look up the post on here from when it happened.) it was a saturday and when he left for work on sunday, i sat down and had me a good cry. cue more vulnerability.

the dangers of this job are so real. and i hate people who make crappy decisions to enhance said dangers. look at me, i can't even formulate a cohesive response, i'm just so hopping mad. ten years? ten years?! what difference does THAT make? jackass. i'm so pissed... and i don't even SAY the word "pissed." (or "jackass," for that matter.)

my heart and thoughts are frequently with the bailey family. i have three little girls and just can't even imagine what mrs. bailey and her kids have been through. those poor, poor children.

[PapaBear]

http://www.vvdailypress.com/cmsimg/vvdailypress/1185563507-domingoesquedaweb.jpg

DOMINGO ESQUEDA