Jaylen Bass, 4, looks at Trooper Duane Dalton's memorial plaque after the memorial service at the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's office as all members of law enforcement from the area were honored. State troopers from Troop D also took part in the service. (Brad Puckett / American Press)
State Police from Troop D and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff deputies carry the flower arrangements in honor of the fallen police officers in Southwest Louisiana during the annual Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Memorial celebration Tuesday. (Brad Puckett / American Press)
Sheriff’s Office, state police honor fallen heroes
Last Modified: Thursday, May 17, 2012 10:34 AM
By Lance Traweek / American Press
Sheriff Tony Mancuso said words like “courage,” “honor,” “pride,” “compassion” and “sacrifice” most accurately describe the duty of a law enforcement officer.
In conjunction with National Police Week, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and state police held a memorial service Tuesday for family, friends and fellow officers whose loved ones died in the line of duty.
“These words also describe the core ingredients of duty,” Mancuso said at the service. “I know that men and women in law enforcement cannot be successful in this great profession if they lack one of these ingredients. They must possess the courage to persevere and always stay true to their sense of duty. We must possess honor to perform our duty — for without honor we are nothing.”
Mancuso said pride is the extra fuel officers need to do their duty when the odds and challenges are pushing against them.
“Our obligation to community, family and profession would be hopeless without compassion,” he said. “How would we understand, and how would we know how to help others if we didn’t understand compassion? What kind of public servant would we be without compassion navigating our sense of duty? So, when I hear the words ‘courage’ and ‘honor’ and ‘pride’ and ‘compassion’ I think of duty. It is our duty to serve bravely, but with that also comes sacrifice. God never promised life would be easy but that it would be worth it.”
He told the crowd that the world around them is forever changing but that one fact remains the same: There has always been and there will always be evil in the world.
“It is our duty in law enforcement as professionals to deal with the evil every day, and it comes with enormous risk,” he said. “It requires great sacrifice from the men and women in law enforcement.”
He said that sacrifice is those who have lost a loved one, bearing “the greatest loss.”
Capt. Chris Guillory, commander of Troop D in Lake Charles, said that in Louisiana 423 officers have been killed in the line of duty.
“And this is what today is all about — recognizing those officers who have given the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.
Mancuso said it was a sad yet happy day for law enforcement.
“Sad because of our comrades who have gone and paid the ultimate sacrifice,” he said. “But an honorable day for the men and women who are still here protecting and serving us every day.”
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