Fallen St. Pete Officers Honored During Police Week At City Hall

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — St. Pete police and community members gathered Wednesday in front of St. Petersburg City Hall to honor local law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

The last sworn St. Pete Police officers lost in the line of duty were three men in less than a one-month span in 2011, according to Major David Gerardo. As someone who has been with the St. Pete Police Department for about 21 years, Gerardo knows firsthand what it's like to lose officers he worked with and considered family.

Gerardo told Patch that Jeff Yazlowitz, who was a K-9 officer, and Sgt. Thomas Baitinger were murdered on the same day. The two officers were killed Jan. 24, 2011, according to the St. Petersburg Police Department's memorial website.

Yazlowitz was shot during a gunfire exchange in an attic with Hydra Lacy, 39, who was wanted for aggravated battery. Thomas was going up to the attic to help his partner when Lacy shot and killed him also. Lacy was later found dead in the attic by the SWAT team, according to ABC News.

"About 28 days later we lost Officer David Crawford," Gerardo said. "He was killed in the line of duty. I served with all three of them. ... I was not on duty when Tom and Jeff were initially killed. I became involved afterwards. And I was actually on duty when the Crawford shooting took place."

Crawford, 46, was shot and killed by then 16-year-old Nicholas Lindsey Jr., on Feb. 21, 2011, when he was interrupted by the officer as he tried to break into a car. Lindsey was later sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of Crawford, according to Case Law.

"I heard it on the (police) radio as it was going on … it's hard to describe, it's surreal, gut-wrenching. It's a heartbreaking thing to go through," he said. "We say killed in the line of duty a lot in this country, and the fact of the matter is there are officers who are simply killed in an unfortunate accident or a medical episode. Then there are officers who are murdered. And those three officers were murdered."

Other Tampa Bay officers recently killed in the line of duty were remembered, including Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Deputy Michael Magli, 30, who was killed when a drunk driver crashed into his patrol car in February, and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Master Corporal Brian LaVigne, who was one shift away from retirement when he was killed by a drunk driver who slammed into his patrol car in January.

At the end of the ceremony, "The Thin Blue Line" flag was raised outside city hall. To view the remembrance officers, visit St. Pete Patch Facebook.

Related Patch Stories:

• Sgt. Brian LaVigne Posthumously Promoted At Funeral Service
• Pinellas Deputy Killed After Being Struck By Driver Under Pursuit
• Three Fallen St. Petersburg Police Officers To Be Honored At Annual Memorial