Route Announced for Slain Officer's Funeral Procession

Tampa Bay area residents who want to pay their last respects to Tarpon Springs Police Officer Charles Kondek may do so on Saturday when he’s laid to rest.

Services for Kondek begin at 11 a.m. at Idlewild Baptist Church, 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., in Lutz. That service is open to the public, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Following the service, which is expected to last about two hours, a processional to Grace Memorial Cemetery in Hudson is planned. While graveside services are closed to the public, the processional route is not, the sheriff’s office stated. Residents are invited to line the procession route, the sheriff’s office added.

The processional will begin roughly around 1 p.m. at the Lutz church. It will follow this route, according to the Tarpon Springs Police Department:

• Northbound on Dale Mabry Highway
• Left onto Lutz-Lake Fern Road to Gunn Highway
• Gunn Highway to Tarpon Avenue
• West on Tarpon Avenue to North Pinellas Avenue/Alternate 19
• North through the City of Tarpon Springs to U.S. 19
• North on U.S. 19 to the 16931 U.S. 19 cemetery in Hudson

Kondek was shot and then run over by a car last Sunday morning as he was responding to a noise complaint call. He succumbed to his injuries at Florida Hospital North Pinellas shortly after the incident.

Marco Antonio Parilla Jr., 23, now faces first-degree murder charges in the death of the veteran law enforcement officer who served about five years with the New York City Police Department before reporting for duty in Tarpon Springs more than 17 years ago.

Kondek, 45, leaves behind a wife, Teresa, and six children: Aleena, Brandon, Andrew, Charlie Jr., Holly and Tiffany, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

See Also:

• Slain Officer’s Services Set
• Man Who Shot Officer’s Accused Shooter Also Arrested
• Weapon Used in Officer’s Shooting Was Stolen, Cops Say
• Scammers Trying to Cash In On Officer’s Death
• Drives Begin to Help Slain Officer’s Family