The death of a police officer hits hard

By adamg on Thu, 05/05/2016 - 10:58am

Bill Forry knew Mike Baker from their days as teens at the Boys and Girls Club. Today, Forry writes about coming to grips with Baker's self-inflicted death last Thursday in his Adams Village home, about the anger, the grief and the sadness and what Baker meant to him, his neighbors and the city. He concludes:

We'll choose to remember him as he was in his prime: A husband, father, son, brother, coach, comedian, and devoted public servant. And, always - quite proudly - a Dorchester kid who always found a way to make us smile.

Neighborhoods:

Dorchester

Free tagging:

Boston Police Department

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Comments

Thank you for publishing this

By anon on Thu, 05/05/2016 - 11:55am.

Thank you for publishing this. We endured a devastating loss last week.

- a Boston cop

Very Sad- RIP

By JPMom on Thu, 05/05/2016 - 12:10pm.

I think I hate suicide even more than I hate cancer.

cancer lets you say goodbye

By bostnkid on Thu, 05/05/2016 - 2:30pm.

ive been on both sides of this and having someone suddenly ripped away is much more difficult. cancer is tough but suicide is fucking brutal.

Recently heard a talk (that

By brianjdamico on Thu, 05/05/2016 - 2:39pm.

Recently heard a talk (that wasn't focused on death, but it touched on it) that said as far as end of life disease goes, cancer is one of the better ways, considering the suffering of all involved, and the opportunity for closure before the fact.

Sudden deaths might work for the deceased, they don't have to suffer all too much from it, but everyone else is left with a hole they weren't ready for, the degenerative diseases can slowly destroy you for years, dragging on the suffering for everyone involved, while with cancer, most people are in decent enough physical shape until the last few months, then you know the end is near and you can do your best to wrap things up, then its over.

Suicide, and other self inflicted deaths have to be the worst, no one is ready for it, and everyone is left thinking they could have done something to prevent it, whether or not it would have actually made a difference.

Remember him as he was in his prime

By Bob Leponge on Thu, 05/05/2016 - 1:35pm.

We'll choose to remember him as he was in his prime

This.

This always.

This always for everyone who has left us.