Remembering CHP's Finest - G. John Bailey (2/25/2006)

Officer John Bailey, I.D. 14664, was killed late Saturday, February 25, as he was conducting a traffic stop. Officer Bailey’s motorcycle was parked behind the Ford Ranger he had stopped, while he made a right-side approach to speak with the driver.  A DUI driver in 1991 Honda Accord drove onto the right shoulder at a high rate of speed, struck the CHP motorcycle and the Ranger, which in turn hit John. The Ranger was struck with such force it overturned, landing in the freeway traffic lanes. All parties were airlifted to Arrowhead Regional Hospital, where Officer Bailey succumbed to his injuries. The DUI driver, Mr. Domingo Esqueda, age 20, of Adelanto, CA reportedly had a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit.

Officer Bailey graduated from the Academy in 1996 and after four years in Barstow, worked in the Rancho Cucamonga Office since December 2000. He had recently returned from a tour in Iraq. He leaves behind his wife, Teresa, and four children, daughters Hanna, 10; Megan, 8; and sons Jared, 6; and Dylan, 5.

Memorial services for Officer Bailey were as follows.

Visitation
Thursday, March 2, 6 PM - 8 PM
Mountain View Mortuary
570 East Highlanad Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92404

Memorial Service
Friday, March 3, 2006, 11 AM
The Rock Church
2345 South Waterman Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92408

Saying Farewall to Officer Bailey

A large crowd said a sad goodbye to CHP Officer Gregory John Bailey, I.D. 14664, the 209^th CHP Officer to give up his life in the line-of-duty. He was “Greg” to his family and “John” to everyone else. John’s dedication was demonstrated the night he was killed. He was riding his departmental motorcycle home, after his shift when he observed a possible impaired driver and made a stop. He could have simply looked the other way, but his dedication to public safety would not allow that. While making that stop, the reckless actions of a 20-year old alleged drunken driver, whose blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit, took John from those who loved him, cared about him and depended on him.

On Friday, March 3, 2006, those closest to Gregory John Bailey gathered at The Rock church in San Bernardino. They were surrounded by those who did not have the privilege of knowing John, but wanted to support his family, friends and co-workers.

After graduating from high school in 1987, John signed up for the Army. Following basic training he was stationed in Germany as a helicopter mechanic and later as a crew chief. After returning to the U.S., John met Teresa and they later married. John left the Army in 1992 and worked briefly as a civilian mechanic before entering the CHP Academy in November 1995. While he was still at the Academy, Teresa gave birth to Hannah, their first-born. After Academy graduation John was assigned to the Barstow Area. John and Teresa later had three more children, Megan, Jared and Dylan. Transferring to the Rancho Cucamonga Area, he was successful in securing a motorcycle assignment. John continued to serve the military as a member of the California National Guard, most recently assigned to 1^st of 140^th Aviation Battalion at Los Alamitos as a Sergeant 1^st Class. He was deployed to Iraq for a year, safely returning in November 2005.

During the funeral, Cliff Bemis sang “The Badge of the CHP,” and Officer/Paramedic Ellen Spurlock, I.D. 12393, Inland Division Air Operations (H-80), sang “If I Had Only Known” by Reba McEntire. (“If I had only known, it was our last walk in the rain. If I had only known I'd never hear your voice again, I'd memorize each thing you ever said...”)

Speakers included CHP Commissioner Mike Brown; California National Guard Major General William Wade, II; CHP Inland Division Chief John Fogerty; and Captain Lynn Jones, Rancho Cucamonga Area Commander. John’s friends and family then spoke; Mike Walker was John's friend since their days in the Army. Walker talked about John enjoying “everything cowboy,” pointing out that John sent his western shirts to be dry-cleaned and always requested plenty of starch. John’s cowboy boots and hats were handmade. CHP Officer Michael Hootman, I.D. 11364, Rancho Cucamonga Area, spoke about how much he had enjoyed his long motorcycle rides with John. Jen Visboll and her husband both met John when they were all stationed in Germany. She excitably spoke about John’s “Animal House” style parties in the barracks that included “toga” parties. Aimee Bailey, John’s little sister, reminded everyone her family knew him as Greg – not John. Aimee talked about playing with Greg when they were young — playing school, boxing (usually resulting in someone getting a bloody nose), Greg chasing her with bugs, etc. She remembered when Greg was eight years old; he rode his bicycle into the driveway holding a four-foot marijuana plant. He told his mother he found it in a neighbor’s yard, knew what it was and was taking it to the burn barrel. The service ended with a prayer offered by The Rock’s Dr. Hendrick Becker.

Following the church service, all assembled in the courtyard. Los Angeles City Fire Department Firefighter/Paramedic John A. Keys played the bagpipes dressed in traditional Scottish clothing. Keys walked in front of John’s casket as the honor guard detail and pallbearers moved it to the church’s courtyard. The rifle detail presented a 21-gun salute, "Taps" was played on two bugles and there were two helicopter “flyovers,” one law enforcement and one military. Then the American flag draping Officer Bailey’s casket was folded and presented. A formal motorcycle detail escorted the hearse as it drove under the fire truck ladders displaying the American flag (San Bernardino City & San Manuel Fire Departments). The interment was private.