Public memorial to be held for slain state trooper and Gulf War veteran

Public memorial to be held for slain state trooper
By Associated Press Published: Feb 26, 2012
SEATTLE (AP) - The Washington State Patrol on Saturday released details of an upcoming memorial service for a trooper killed during a traffic stop in Kitsap County, while the man's family remembered him as a committed law enforcement officer.

State Patrol spokesman Bob Calkins said the service for Trooper Tony Radulescu is set for 1 p.m. Thursday at the ShoWare Center arena in Kent. He said the public is welcome to attend.

Also Saturday, the trooper's family spoke publicly for the first time since the slaying.

Radulescu's son Erick said during a news conference in Bremerton that his father was "everything" to him.

"He was a hero. He was the biggest role model in my life. He was really my best friend," the 22-year-old Army medic said. "At least he got to go doing what he loved to do."

The 44-year-old Tony Radulescu of Port Orchard was born in Romania, served in the Army during the Gulf War and was a trooper for 16 years. His ability to speak Romanian, Spanish and Korean made him an unofficial translator for the county's law enforcement agencies.
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