MEMORIAL TRIBUTE: Deputies honor fallen colleagues

*published May 13, 2009

Sgt. Cory Manuel, left, and Cpl. Leonard Crawford raise the American flag to half-staff in honor of all officers who died in the line of duty. BY BRAD PUCKETT

BY VANESSA C. DEGGINS

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso said Tuesday’s memorial service on the Sheriff’s Office grounds served as a tribute to fallen law officers from all over Southwest Louisiana.

“I think it’s fitting to mention slain officers from the surrounding parishes because we are all an extended family,” Mancuso said.

In Calcasieu Parish, 19 officers have been killed in the line of duty.

Mancuso also used the event to thank his current deputies.

“No person is any good if they don’t have a great staff, and I want my coworkers to know they do a great job in our community,” he said.

William Brian plays the bagpipes in honor of all fallen officers Tuesday at the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office memorial service. BY BRAD PUCKETT

Chief Deputy Gary “Stitch” Guillory thanked the family members of fallen deputies for attending.

“I know sometimes it may get tough,” Guillory said. “That’s why we always want you to know that you are not going through this alone.”

Mancuso presented two plaques to be hung in the main lobby for Deputy Eric Bellard, who died, along with his father, on Sept. 3, of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The family of slain Deputy Billy Wayne McIntosh — his parents, Foy and Cleta, and son, Gregory — were in attendance. McIntosh was killed in October 1997 while responding to a domestic dispute. His son is now a deputy.

Sheriff Tony Mancuso and Sgt. Darek Ardoin hold a shadow box honoring fallen Deputy Eric Bellard during the memorial service at the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday.

The service also featured a roll call of fallen officers and a gun salute by the Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard.

“Our drive to protect and serve the community comes from the sacrifices made by those who served before us,” Mancuso said. “This is a remarkable group of people who serve a purpose greater than themselves.”

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