Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

RIP Sergeant Tom Baitinger

To your Family and Friends:

'God didn’t promise days without pain,
laughter without sorrow, sun without rain;
but He did promise strength for the day,
comfort for the tears and light for the way'.

Sgt. Randy Keenan (RET)
Alameda, CA Police Dept.

January 24, 2011

My prayers are with the friends and family of Sgt. Baitinger during this terrible time. The criminal element in Florida, and our Nation, is out of control.

Invest. Mike Bradford;Ret
Tallahassee PD

January 24, 2011

Deepest of sympathies to this officer's family. May he rest in peace.

Cheri
Former police officer

January 24, 2011

Rest in Peace...

Detective
Syracuse Police Dept, NY

January 24, 2011

MRS BAITINGER AND FAMILY WERE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS WE WILL KEEP YOU ALL IN OUR PRAYERS GOD SPEED SIR RIP GOD BLESS YOU ALL

DANNY
RET INDIANA STATE TROOPER

January 24, 2011

RIP brother.

Q132
LEO

January 24, 2011

Our entire staff sends our thoughts and prayers to the family of Sgt. Baitinger and to the St.Petersburg PD. The bravery and courage of Sgt. Baitinger is a inspiration to all of us LE. RIP brother Tom.

Director Griffin /MPS DOPS
OIG / Airport Security Div.

January 24, 2011

Officer,

Your sacrifice does not go unnoticed. The community morns and I cry. Thank you for keeping us safe. RIP

K. Daly
Concerned Citizen

January 24, 2011

I am very sorry for your loss. May god watch over you at this time.

Deputy Stella Heuer
Osage County Sheriff Lyndon, Kansas

January 24, 2011

I am a grandmother in AL, but originaaly from Tampa. My daughter in Tampa and I have been following this tragic story all day. We do not know any police officers, but we want you to know you are not alone. Many strangers do care about your horrible and senseless loss. Officer Baitinger is a true hero. We are so very sorry.

Citizen
Alabama

January 24, 2011

God Bless Sgt. Baitingers' family, friends and the St. Petersburg PD in the wake of this senseless tragedy.
God Bless and Godspeed.

Lisa
GEORGIA CIVILIAN

January 24, 2011

Thank you Sergeant Baitinger for your ultimate sacrifice. My thoughts and prayers are with your family tonight. Let us keep the soldiers on our home front in our prayers also.

Anonymous

January 24, 2011

God bless the St.Petersburg Police Department. Your Brothers and sisters in Pa are thinking about you.

Sgt Brian Wilbur
Springettsbury township police

January 24, 2011

Brother, many thanks for the years of dedication and service to your community. Bless your family.We now have the watch. Godspeed.

Deputy R. L. Matthews NC
Father of Deputy C. Brian Matthews EOW 9-30-05

January 24, 2011

In Honor of your Sacrifice and for your family and friends, I salute you as a HERO!

"The Badge"

He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.

He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.

Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.

He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whose blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.

His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.

He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.

And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.

But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.

Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.

Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.

So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.

In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.

Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.

Written By:
David L. Bell

Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1993 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell (Retired)
Richland Couty Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

January 24, 2011

Rest with God now, dear brother. Know that the world you left for your family and the rest of us is a safer and better place now because of your courage and sacrifice. The rest of us will be along to join you when it's our time to go 10-7. God bless and watch over your family during this tragic time.

Deputy
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office

January 24, 2011

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Thank you so much for your service.

Barbara Pope
wife of LEO

January 24, 2011

God Bless you and your family...You will be missed! You are truely a HERO! Our whole Law Enforcement family is in pain. REST IN PEACE...GOD SPEED!

Comm Center Sprvr., J. Stickley
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

January 24, 2011

It has been a long time since we had shared any time together, your family and mine. God Bless You Tom and Paige you are in our thoughts and prayers. I am so sorry that this has happened. I wish I turn the clock back. You will be greatly missed by all.

Kim Williams

Retired DD Kim D. Williams
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office/Friend

January 24, 2011

Tragedy...It is a terrible tragedy, that we continue to lose good law enforcement officers, just trying to do their job.
Sgt. Baitinger, you are a Hero to me and the other's left to carry on...God Speed Brother.

Sgt. C.P. Hart
Dixie County Sheriff's Office- Patrol

January 24, 2011

R.I.P
Cork, Ireland

Anonymous

January 24, 2011

God Speed.

Retired LEO
Delaware

January 24, 2011

May God bless you and your family, Sgt. Baitinger. Thank you for your service.

A Texas Street Cop#614

Anonymous

January 24, 2011

God Bless you, your family, colleagues and friends.

chuck

January 24, 2011

God's journal for law enforcement is filled with your record of love, honor, leadership, bravery, and integrity to professionalism written in the purest of gold. Your brothers and sisters left behind will keep your name and your honor alive for years to come and they will care for your family. In your name and that of brother Yaslowitz we pray for an end to the assaults on all our brothers and sisters in this great nation created by God. In Christ.

Tom Bradley, Retired
Phoenix AZ PD, AZ State Chap. FOP

January 24, 2011