Officer slain while off-duty

Orlando authorities believe he was the victim of an early-morning ATM holdup.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published October 5, 2007

ORLANDO - An off-duty police officer was shot dead at a bank early Thursday, the victim of a suspected ATM robbery, authorities said.

Alfred L. Gordon Sr., 52, an Orlando police veteran, was discovered just before 1 a.m. by an Orange County sheriff's deputy. He was driving his personal car, and investigators said it wasn't clear if the killer knew Gordon was an officer.

"We feel at this point this is a robbery," said sheriff's Sgt. Allen Lee. "We think he was just trying to make a simple transaction."

Police Chief Mike McCoy said the 18-year veteran was a deacon at his church, an inactive major in the Army Reserves, had three children and sang in the church choir.

The Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation because the killing happened outside city police jurisdiction.

Gordon has worked on patrol and in criminal investigation, but was most recently assigned to the airport.

Investigators are reviewing bank surveillance videos. Allen said he believes there are witnesses, based on transaction records. Authorities offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Orlando last year set a record with 49 homicides, 36 percent higher than its previous mark of 36 in 1982.

[Last modified October 4, 2007, 23:49:27]