The community of Tarpon Springs continues to show its support to the family of fallen officer Charlie Kondek, and so are Kondek’s fellow officers.
To honor Kondek, 11 Tarpon Springs officers are getting tattoos. It’s just another way the officers want to show their support and continue to remember their fallen brother.
Kondek, 45, was shot to death by a wanted felon Dec. 21 while responding to a noise complaint. He left behind a wife and six children.
Scott Osarczuk was Charlie’s shift supervisor. He is getting the saint of protection leaning over the thin blue line tattooed on his forearm.
“For us, it’s the best way we can honor Charlie,” said Sgt. Scott Osarczuk.
A dog tag with Kondek’s end-of watch date and badge number will now be part of officer Michael Roque’s original police tattoo.
“He was a good role model for all of us,” Roque said.
Half of the proceeds from the tattooing event will go towards Kondek’s family -- something the tattoo shop wanted to do for the family of the man who watched over their community.
“It hit close to home, said Mitch Teckman, owner of Legendary Tattoos. "I didn’t know Charlie personally, but I know all the guys that work on that shift. It hit us all hard you know."