DA: Spouse of parish president holds no influence
April 25, 2012Lafourche voters OK tax spending for schools
April 25, 2012
Josh Barbera is a man with tunnel vision, seeking a goal and accomplishing it with great gumption.
The 28-year-old narcotics agent of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office received his biggest challenge yet last August – battling Leukemia. After seven years without a sick day, he found himself oddly ill. Following a couple of days’ decline he decided to visit the doctor.
“I knew in my gut something was wrong because it took them a really long time to tell me the results of the blood test,” Barbera said. “The doctor called me and Angela [wife] into his office and said that a normal white blood cell count is between 4,000-11,000. Mine was 300,000. He said he’s almost positive it’s Leukemia.”
He immediately went to the Thibodaux Regional Medical Center to begin the fight. His mother is a registered nurse who accepted a job in the hospital’s cancer center only a short time prior. With the help of her and his wife Angela, he continues to improve.
“I really didn’t think me and my wife could be any closer,” Barbera said. “She takes great care of me. It makes me appreciate her even more.”
The couple has been married for three years. Law enforcement brought the two together when Angela, also an officer, met Josh responding to a “shots fired” call in Raceland. For him and his wife, it was a simple decision to become a police officer.
“It is a very rewarding profession and serving the public is very important to us,” Barbera said. “I always wanted to be a narcotics agent.”
Barbera said that being a police officer provides him with the adrenaline rush he needs to keep going, also providing the satisfaction of knowing he is doing more to help his community and the families involved.
“In drug investigations, more than just the suspect is affected,” he said. “Entire families are affected. Removing innocent children from a dangerous and unhealthy situation is difficult, but rewarding. I’ve even had former drug violators that I’ve arrested in the past thank me later for arresting them, saying that if not for being arrested, they would have continued on the same path, but that since their arrest, their life has turned around for the better.”
Born in Germany to a father in the Army, Barbera moved to Thibodaux when he was only 2 years old. He attended Nicholls State University and began his journey as an officer.
“I still remember the day that I went to the personnel office to take my test for employment,” Barbera said. “John Champagne, currently the narcotics lieutenant, introduced himself to me. At the time he was a sergeant in narcotics.
“Perhaps a little full of myself, I told him I planned on becoming a narcotics agent one day. I noticed the sarcastic look on his face like, ‘What makes you so sure?’ but he encouraged me to work hard on patrol and prove myself as a deputy.”
Barbera has been a narcotics agent for about six years. Champagne lauded his work ethic
“He has a can-do attitude and if he can’t do it, he’ll try until he can,” Champagne said. “He’s a very honest and genuine person; what you see is what you get, no smoke and mirrors. He’ll bend over backwards to help anyone and he never minds lending a helping hand.”
Being behind the desk or at home from his illness has made him appreciate the job more. He didn’t return to full duty until last month.
In effort to relieve their partner of financial stresses and to show support, his coworkers have planned a benefit softball tournament, which is scheduled for April 27, 28 and 29 at the Lockport Ballpark. The tournament has separate men’s and women’s brackets with an entry fee of $200 per team. To donate or register a team, contact Josh Champagne at (985) 637-4732.
Barbera’s friends and coworkers organized the tournament without his knowledge, knowing he would have declined if they had asked. Taking great strides, his health continues to improve.
“Moving forward I plan on beating this thing and putting it behind me,” Barbera said.
Angela and Josh Barbera are experiencing the benefits of teamwork as the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office hosts a benefit softball tournament to help the couple fight Josh’s leukemia.
