ST. PETERSBURG

Two St. Petersburg police officers and a gunman were fatally shot and a U.S. marshal was injured early Monday in gunfire that broke out as police tried to serve a domestic battery warrant at a St. Petersburg home.

 

The St. Petersburg officers became the first killed during service since 1980. Harmon said the wives of both were notified and "in shock."

 

Yaslowitz, 39, joined the department in 1999. He was part of the department's K-9 unit. He is survived by his wife Lorraine and three young children -- two boys ages 5 and 12 and an 8-year-old daughter.

 

Baitinger, 48, had been with the department since 1996. He is survived by his wife Paige.

 

Their friends and colleagues called them "Yaz" and "Bait."

 

Yaz was a tenacious athlete known for his quiet nature with a passion for the Boston Red Sox. Bait was a jovial cheesehead and Green Bay Packers fan from Wisconsin with a penchant for hugging co-workers having a bad day.

 

God Bless These Officers