Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Tom Baitinger and Police Officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz were shot and killed while attempting to serve two warrants on a suspect wanted for aggravated battery.
Several members of a regional task force had gone to the home to question a family member about the man's whereabouts. After making contact with the woman, the officers were informed that the man was in the attic and possibly armed.
Officer Yaslowitz, who served on the department's canine unit, had just started his shift, filling in for another officer, when he responded to the call.
After searching the house they located the suspect in the attic where he convinced officers that he was going to surrender. As Officer Yaslowitz and a member of the United States Marshals Service, Marshal Scott Ley, made entry into the attic, the suspect shot Officer Yaslowitz twice in the head, and then shot the Marshal Ley in the groin, causing Marshal Ley to fall out of the attic.
Officers assembled a rescue team to try to rescue Officer Yaslowitz from the attic, and Marshal Ley from a bathroom on the upper floor of the house. As Sergeant Baitinger passed under the opening of the attic to aid Marshal Ley, the suspect then fired from the attic, striking Sergeant Baitinger.
A SWAT team used a tactical vehicle to breach a wall of the home and came under fire, but was able to recover Officer Yaslowitz. Officer Yaslowitz and Sergeant Baitinger were both transported to a local hospital where they were pronounced dead.
The suspect was found dead several hours later after the home was partially dismantled using heavy machinery.
Sergeant Baitinger had served with the St. Petersburg Police Department for 15 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-AEC6C7C2- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Baitinger gave the St. Petersburg Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Petersburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Baitinger.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Thomas John Baitinger is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At St. Petersburg Police Department, 12 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas John Baitinger's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas John Baitinger Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas John Baitinger is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas John Baitinger was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from St. Petersburg Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
