Heroism Honored in 2011 Police Shooting

TAMPA – On Jan. 24, it will be a year to the day that K-9 Officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz and Sergeant Tom Baitinger were . The two were serving as back-up on an .

The heroic efforts of first responders, including three St. Petersburg officers, to help their comrades and apprehend felon Hydra Lacy Jr. were honored in a somber ceremony Tuesday in a small room at the U.S. Marshals Services' building.

Light was shed on the question of why it took a year to hold the ceremony. "In respect to the two officers that were killed, we felt that it was just the appropriate time now," explained U.S. Marshal William Berger.

Berger, along with Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Figmik and Assistant Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Pete Cajigal paid tribute to the following officers for their acts of bravery during the shootout with police:

• Deputy U.S. Marshals Miguel Lopez and Ron Lindbak,
• St. Pete Police Officers: Chris Herron, Tim McClintick and Doug Weaver
• Pinellas County Sheriff's Deputy Misty Manning
• Criminal Investigator Deputy U.S. Marshal Scott Ley

St. Pete Officers were given Commendations for Heroism awards, while Criminal Investigator Deputy U.S. Marshal Scott Ley was the recipient of the Purple Heart. Ley was hospitalized after the shooting due to bullet wounds, one in the abdomen and one that lodged in his bullet-proof vest.

The year 2011 set a tragic record for police officers killed in the line of duty in the United States. The previous record had been set in the 1970s. In 2011, Florida was named the No. 1 state for the most officers killed in the line of duty.

"Every day, our men and women do this and it's just amazing," said Berger. "It sorrows me that unfortunately we've lost two."