Tribute to James Pagano

My brother, Jimmy, a lieutenant in the Cranston Fire Department, was shot in the back by his next door neighbor (a former cop) with a semi-automatic weapon while running for his life at his son’s 9th outdoor birthday party. A tennis ball the kids were playing with accidentally hit the neighbor’s car, an argument ensued, and Jim was gunned down in front of his entire family and neighbors. He was a longtime resident of this small community and loved by all who knew him. He was a dedicated husband and father of two, great friend to all, and a longtime civil servant. A senseless tragedy occurred due to a law that automatically grants even unstable and disenchanted cops an automatic license to carry. That was four years ago, and not a moment passes that we do not remember this wonderful, loving man and the flashbacks of that day, May 18, 2008.