BREMERTON, Wash. - Trooper Tony Radulescu's son, Erick spoke about his father Sunday. It's the first time we've heard from any of the family.
“I’m his only son, and I think I knew him better than anyone so if someone should be talking about his life why not the one person who's been with him through all of it,” he said.
Radulescu was shot and killed early Thursday morning during a traffic stop. The man who shot him later committed suicide. Five people have since been arrested in connection with the murder.
Erick Radulescu, a Joint Base Lewis-McChord medic, called his dad his best friend.
“He was everything, he was a hero, he was the biggest role model in my life,” he said. “He was the go-to guy for everything I ever needed.”
“I don’t think I know a person anywhere that doesn’t love him,” he said.
Erick said his dad loved people and loved reaching out to people.
“He loved making people’s lives better, and he had a knack for being able to do his job in a way that – even people that he was doing negative things to – could come out of it feeling better about themselves and about police and about everything in life,” he said.
He said he was trying to be strong for his family.
“In my job I’ve seen a lot of bad things happen, so I guess you cope differently after a while,” he said. “I think there’s a time for the grieving and there’s a time to be strong, and right now I just need to be there for my family and for everyone else that’s involved.”
Erick said he had not given any thought to becoming a State Trooper but now is considering it.
"It was never a thought before but I want to do anything I can to bring credit to him and what he's accomplished," he said.
A memorial for Trooper Radulescu will be held March 1 at 1 p.m. at ShoWare Center in Kent. The public is invited.
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