ST. PETERSBURG, FL\u00e2\u20ac\u201dThe Tampa Bay Rays will \u00e2\u20ac\u0153retire\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the official radio call signs of the three St. Petersburg police officers killed in 2011, the first officers lost in the line of duty in St. Petersburg in more than 30 years.\u00c2\u00a0 The ceremony will take place at Tropicana Field prior to the Rays-Orioles game on Friday, May 13 at 7:10 p.m.<\/p>\n
Sergeant Thomas Baitinger and Officer<\/em> Jeffrey Yaslowitz were slain as they attempted to arrest a fugitive on January 24. Four weeks later, on February 21, Officer David Crawford was killed as he attempted to apprehend a robbery suspect.<\/p>\n All three worked at Rays games at Tropicana Field and were well-known by Rays fans and employees throughout the park.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153These men were a part of our Tropicana Field family,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Rays President Matt Silverman. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Their service contributed to a safer St. Petersburg, and they also helped create a more welcoming environment at Rays games.\u00c2\u00a0 We miss them dearly, and they will not be forgotten.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n The radio call signs of each officer will be permanently displayed beyond the right field wall at Tropicana Field.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153<\/em>The Tampa Bay Rays have created a powerful, lasting\u00c2\u00a0tribute for\u00c2\u00a0our\u00c2\u00a0three police officers who recently\u00c2\u00a0made the\u00c2\u00a0ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said St. Petersburg Chief of Police Chuck Harmon.\u00c2\u00a0\u00e2\u20ac\u0153This heartfelt act reminds all of us in\u00c2\u00a0the St. Petersburg Police Department\u00c2\u00a0of the incredible support we have received from\u00c2\u00a0our community\u00c2\u00a0in our time of sorrow,\u00c2\u00a0and sustains us with\u00c2\u00a0the realization that we do not stand alone<\/em>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u201dRAYS\u00e2\u20ac\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n For more information please contact the Rays Communications Dept., (727) 825-3242.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n The Tampa Bay Rays have proudly represented Major League Baseball in the Tampa Bay region since 1998. The organization and its foundation are committed to building a strong community bond through meaningful interaction and charitable contributions.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ST. PETERSBURG, FL\u00e2\u20ac\u201dThe Tampa Bay Rays will \u00e2\u20ac\u0153retire\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the official radio call signs of the three St. Petersburg police officers killed in 2011, the first officers lost in the line of duty in St. Petersburg in more than 30 years.\u00c2\u00a0 The ceremony will take place at Tropicana Field prior to the Rays-Orioles game on Friday, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":737,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[14477,1101,14482,14471,14478,14480,13260,191,2347,14476,14472,14473,14468,14474,14479,14481,2257,14475,2302,6304],"class_list":["post-13969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-call-signs","tag-charitable-contributions","tag-chief-of-police","tag-chuck-harmon","tag-community-bond","tag-david-crawford","tag-line-of-duty","tag-major-league-baseball","tag-matt-silverman","tag-meaningful-interaction","tag-orioles-game","tag-petersburg-police-department","tag-police-officers","tag-sergeant-thomas","tag-st-petersburg-fl","tag-strong-community","tag-tampa-bay-rays","tag-tampa-bay-region","tag-tropicana-field","tag-ultimate-sacrifice"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t