A FREE CONCERT w/Greg Billings Band/Pitbull Toddler

Jannus Live presents the Police Unity Tour Benefit Concert, a free event honoring the city’s fallen police officers — Tom Baitinger, Jeffrey Yaslowitz and David Crawford — who were killed in the line of duty last year. Headlining the show will be one of Tampa Bay’s most popular rock acts, the Greg Billings Band. Also appearing will be Pitbull Toddler, led by Cowhead from the afternoon show on “The Bone” 102.5 FM.

This will be a fundraising event to enable the St. Petersburg Police Department to participate in the 12th annual Police Unity Tour, where in May select members of the force will bicycle 250 miles from Virginia to Washington D.C., culminating in the fallen officers’ names being engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial. The yearly event draws law enforcement participants from around the country.

The initiative will require transportation for the cycling officers and support people to and from Virginia, as well as lodging and other expenses. Event coordinator for the Police Unity Tour Benefit Concert, Dawn Peters, wife of SPPD Officer Robert Peters,says the group needs to raise a minimum of $22,000 to fund the project. “Properly honoring these men is a high priority for all of us, but it takes constantly raising awareness about it,” Peters said. “When we raise awareness, the donations come. It’s that simple.”

The cause is near and dear to Jannus Live managing partner Jeff Knight. “We’re fortunate at Jannus Live to have the means to raise some real money for the Police Unity Tour and put on a great free concert at the same time,” he said. “We expect a major turnout.”

Great Bay Distributors/Budweiser is sponsoring the concert, putting considerable promotional backing behind it.