Letter eases cop family’s pain

As the widow of Sgt. Rick Riggenbach copes with the pain of loss, the caring and love expressed by the community he policed – while not able to erase what she feels – provides a form of spiritual balm.

Balloons on and around the Chitimacha reservation streets Riggenbach once patrolled and posthumous letters of thanks, Bonnie Riggenbach says, are among the expressions that allow for some positivity to emerge from a situation where finding the positive is nearly impossible.

Riggenbach was killed Jan. 26 on Flat Town Road in Charenton, after he responded to a report of a man with a shotgun. His alleged assailant, Wilbert Thibodeaux, is being held in a state prison while prosecutors prepare their case against him, and State Police continue their investigation. Also killed that day was 78-year-old Eddie Lyons of Charenton, prior to the encounter with Riggenbach. Two St. Mary deputies were wounded.

Emerging details of systemic glitches that some law enforcement experts say paved the way for Thibodeaux, a man relatives, neighbors and a significant body of evidence indicate suffered from a mental illness that had recently gone untreated, make for little comfort.

But community support helps.

A letter from the daughter of another police officer sent to the family and read at Riggenbach’s funeral, his widow says, is among them. It was addressed directly to the slain officer, written by an 11th grade student, Sarah Guillory, who knew him, and whose father is also a tribal police officer.

“How can you go from being here to never going back home? I don’t understand this … but I’m sure in time I will,” Guillory’s letter states. “You would always pick on me and make me a bit angry and tell me to be sweet. Since I’ve met you, you taught me a very important lesson, always forgive, never hold a grudge, you don’t know where you’ll be tomorrow. I can just hear you say it.

“You were like an uncle to me, embracing me with warm hugs followed by nuogies. When I would get scared at night and my pappa could never make it, you would always be glad to check in with me. Always happy to help someone, so caring and always happy to help someone, so caring and always happy. I’ve never seen you unhappy or sad.

“You were a proud and brave officer. I knew you loved what you did. Thank you Rick, for always being there, for watching over us and continuing to do so. I’m glad you served alongside my pappa and I’m glad you came into our lives. Thank you Rick, for the time you spent with us.”

Bonnie Riggenbach said it has helped, as well, because so much of the media coverage in the aftermath of her husband’s shooting has focused on the suspect, rather than on the good her late husband did.

The letter is signed “love always.”