Western District’s U.S. Attorney’s Office remembers fallen law enforcement officers during National Police Week 2016

SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES/MONROE, La.: Members of the public join with law enforcement across the country for National Police Week – May 15^th through May 21^st – to honor law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the family members, friends and fellow officers they left behind.

“National Police Week is a special opportunity to recognize the great and heroic work of law enforcement officers,” said U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley. “We pay a special tribute to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. There is no greater service to one’s community than to be prepared to die for the safety of others.”

This year, the names of 128 officers killed in the line of duty are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., during the 28^th Annual 2016 Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13^th. These names include officers who were killed during 2015 and officers who died in previous years who have not been previously added to the Memorial. The fallen officers of 2015 include four members of the law enforcement community in the Western District of Louisiana: 

• Juandre Devon Gilliam Sr., Jeanerette Police Department, who died April 8, 2015;

• Thomas Joseph LaValley, Shreveport Police Department, who died August 5, 2015;

• Steven J. Vincent, Louisiana State Police, who died August 24, 2015; and

• Henry Andres Nelson, Sunset Police Department, who died August 26, 2015.

To assist local public safety officers in the work that they do, the U.S. Attorney’s Office offers a number safety and survival training throughout the year. The Western District’s Law Enforcement Community Coordinator is Mike Campbell, a former Shreveport Police Chief, who oversees the course curricula and sessions. The courses are open to federal, state, local, military and tribal law enforcement officers.

“We are committed to provide training to assist our law enforcement officers to do their jobs better and safer,” Finley stated. “Our goal is for all public safety officers to return home to their families at the end of their shifts each and every day.”

National Police Week is a collaborative effort of many organizations dedicated to honoring America’s law enforcement community.