And So It Begins...

Probably all coincidental, right?

A police officer in Tarpon Springs, Florida, was shot and killed early Sunday, a sheriff's spokeswoman said. A suspect is in custody. The fatal shooting occurred in a residential area in the predawn hours, said Cecilia Barreda from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

The slain officer, Charles Kondek, was a 17-year veteran of the Tarpon Springs Police Department. Kondek, 45, was a New York City police officer for five years before moving to Florida, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office identified the suspect as Marco Antonio Parilla Jr., 23. Parilla faces a charge of first-degree murder.

Oh, and there's this...

An off-duty St. Louis police officer remained in critical condition Saturday after being shot multiple times in his personal vehicle by an unknown assailant.

St. Louis Police Captain Michael Sack said the 28-year-old officer, who has been with the department for four years, is in critical but stable condition. His injuries are believed to be non-life threatening.

“An off-duty officer had been driving down this street in his personal vehicle when he came across an occupant or occupants in another vehicle,” Capt. Sack said in a press conference. “We don’t know what transpired, but the occupant or occupants of that other vehicle opened fire at the officer.”

God bless and keep the officers and their families. As for me, I will be taking my gun everywhere from now on.