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Cash gifts for donations of body armor, random deliveries of food, and in some cases invites for special appreciative luncheons, continue flowing in to local law enforcement agencies, as Terrebonne and Lafourche communities show support for cops in the wake of deadly attacks in Dallas and Baton Rouge.
On Sunday Vision Christian Center in Houma gave Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter a $15,000 donation for the purchase of body armor for officers. That’s on top of a donation of six high-end vests from the St. Martin & Bourque law firm.
In Lafourche Parish, deputies and civilian volunteers raised $50,000 that will be sent to law enforcement officers and their families in Baton Rouge and Dallas. Three officers were slain in Baton Rouge and five in Dallas, at the height of controversy over questionable shootings of black men in Baton Rouge and Minnesota. The shooters in Dallas and Baton Rouge – each of whom were killed in combat with officers – had expressed hatred for police officers.
The donation from Vision Christian was arranged by a church member, State Rep. Beryl Amedee R-Houma, with the congregation’s pastor, Kim Voisin. Larpenter attended Sunday’s service, which he said was conducted in a spirit of emotional outpouring on behalf of police officers, recognizing the dangers they face on a routine basis.
“I enjoyed the service and the message,” said Larpenter. “And the donation was very appreciated, a message to me from the church so far as what we are all about, which is having love in your heart and coming together. Not everybody we deal with are like the people in the church, we have to deal with people who don’t have love in their heart or who have been in jail numerous times and don’t want to go back and do bad things.”
The ballistic protection Larpenter’s deputies wear must be replaced every five years. The money from the church will be used to upgrade or replace equipment that will keep officers safe, Larpenter said.
In Lafourche Parish the can shake that netted the $50,000 bound for Dallas and Baton Rouge was hailed as a great success by Sheriff Craig Webre. Motorists who donated $10 or more during that event were gifted with a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts.
There were 1,000 dozen, or a total of 12,000 donuts, given away during the event.
“Additionally, all who donated received a blue ribbon and a novelty ‘Get Out of Jail, Free’ card which, on the back, expressed gratitude for the donation and websites on which further donations could be made directly,” said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Brennan Matherne. A “Jean Week” fundraiser in Lafourche, which allowed employees donating $25 or more to a special fund to wear jeans to work for a day, was also used for relief efforts for officers and families.
“I want to sincerely thank the LPSO employees, the other law enforcement officers, first responders, and their family members who contributed to these efforts,” Webre said. “These men and women braved some serious heat and humidity during the five-hour can shake, all in the name of helping fellow officers.”
In Thibodaux, the investment firm of Walters, Meyer Trosclair & Associates, an office affiliated with Ameriprise Financial, held an appreciation luncheon for local law enforcement Thursday. Officers from the Thibodaux Police Department, the Lafourche Sheriff’s Office and two state troopers attended.
“It went great, we had a really good turnout, everyone was happy and everyone left with full bellies,” said the firm’s practice manager, Kylie Kern. “We are very active in our community and wanted to reach out and show our officers support and that we are backing them.” •
