St. CharlesParish supports law enforcement

Fallen Heroes memorial expanding with more statues, benches

While law enforcement has been criticized nationally, St. Charles Parish has rallied behind its four officers who died in the line of duty, as well as support Officer Burt Hazeltine who survived multiple gunshots at a school crossing in Paradis in April.

“There are four officers who didn’t return home from protecting the parish,” said spokesman Capt. Pat Yoes. “They are part of what made the parish what it is. It’s so important to have this memorial and the annual memorial service we’ve had more than three decades.”

As Hazeltine recovered from his wounds from an apparent ambush, three area organizations immediately set up funds to take donations to assist him and his family.

Later in April, at a lunch fundraiser for him, there was such an outpouring of community support that they nearly ran out of food. Then, he commented, “People support the local law enforcement even when there’s so many negatives that give the profession a black eye.”

This support has extended to expanding the St. Charles Parish Fallen Heroes Memorial in front of the Sheriff’s headquarters to include another 30 feet that will include four to six benches, two additional bronze statues, a planter surrounding the site, landscaping and landscape lighting.

The statues will include a child kneeling and another with a K-9 dog.

“Memorials like this don’t just happen,” Yoes said. “They evolve out of the respect and admiration for those who gave their all in the service St. Charles Parish. In a free society, it is our obligation to ensure their money and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

As testimony to the parish’s support for its police, Yoes said they’ve raised $70,000 for the memorial in the last four years.

“This is also a tribute to those who have and are presently serving in public safety,” he said. “We, as a free society, owe a debt of gratitude to all who willingly place their own safety second to those they serve.”

An estimated $20,000 is needed to finish the $100,000 memorial, which was dedicated in May of 2012.

The project is in its third and final phase.In this phase, a bronze statue of a child will be placed next to the current statue of a kneeling deputy holding a folded flag and facing plaques with images of parish’s four fallen officers.

The memorial also features a Legacy Walk with bricks available for sale ranging from $100 for a plain red brick up to $1,000 for cornerstones with photo etchings, Yoes said. Proceeds go toward the memorial.

“A good thing is here we are at Christmas time selling bricks for the Legacy Work and what a great gift to purchase a brick in a family member’s name and have it in the memorial,” he said.

A bench sponsorship also is available at $1,500 each.The project is being done through the Louisiana Fraternal Order of Police Foundation, which allows these donations to be tax deductible, with support from Sheriff Greg Champagne.Yoes said additions to the memorial were long desired, but funding made it possible.

Plans are to complete the memorial by May of next year, the 33rd year of holding a memorial service in the parish.To order a brick or sponsor a bench, visit the website at http://bit.ly/FOPBuyABrick or contact Capt. Yoes at (985) 783-1355 or email him at pyoes@stcharlessheriff.org.

 

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