LPSO rewards employees, civilians with top honors

Phyllis Guidry received the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office top award at the 18th annual Lafourche Pride Banquet and Awards Program.

Guidry, known by fellow employees as “Fe,” was the recipient of the Sheriff’s Star because of her 10 years of service and embodying a “Whatever It Takes,” motto, LPSO spokesman Brennan Matherne said.

In addition to her regular duties, Guidry was a member of the accreditation team and has coordinated the Investment Recovery Program, pool unit assignments and retention of records. She recently began scheduling the Mobile Command Post for its assignments.

The sheriff’s office annually recognizes employees and outstanding citizens who, over the past year, have saved a life, captured a dangerous felon, risked their own personal safety for others or performed their job in law enforcement in a distinguished or commendable manner.

Several other awards were handed out:

• Jordan Miller, 8, received the Life-Saving Award for his actions in saving the life of his father, Gene. While building a deer stand in Mississippi, Gene fell 14 feet from the top of the stand to the ground. He was disoriented and unable to seek help, but Jordan was somehow able to assist his father onto the back of an ATV and find his way back to camp. A friend then assisted and brought them to the hospital.

• Lt. Andrew Labat, K-9 Deputy Anthony Stelly and Port Fourchon Harbor Police Officer P.J. Lyons each received the Life-Saving Award for their actions in rescuing a woman from a car that had rolled into the bayou.

• Deputy Amy Guillot received the Life-Saving Award for her actions in subduing a crime victim who was planning to take her own life.

• Corrections Officer Stanley Jones received the Life-Saving Award for performing CPR on an inmate who collapsed in a courtroom.

• Capt. Karla Beck received the Life-Saving Award for saving the life of a stranger while off duty at a water park. Beck noticed a man lying face down in a pool, jumped into the water and pulled the unconscious man to the banks, where she performed CPR. Paramedics determined the man had experienced a seizure and would have surely drowned if not for Beck’s efforts.

• Deputy Chastity Thompson received the Life-Saving Award for saving her stepfather’s life after he fell to the floor and stopped breathing. She performed CPR and was able to obtain a pulse and restore his breathing until paramedics arrived.

• Deputy Koby Richard received the Life-Saving Award for performing CPR on a child who had stopped breathing. He was able to restore the child’s pulse, and an ambulance transported the child to a hospital.

• A large contingent was recognized for their efforts in saving the life of a survivor of a boating accident that had killed another person. Deputy Cody Naquin, Sgt. Jeff Prevost, Sgt. Kent Matherne and Capt. Dean Savoie received Life-Saving Awards for their role in saving the second boater. Several employees of VIH Cougar Helicopters, including pilots Grant Mills and Mike Bolling, Corpsman Richard Cormier, and Steve Johnson, of rescue, also received Life-Saving Awards.

• K-9 “Possum,” who gave his life in pursuit of a suspect in August 2011, was honored with a Distinguished Service Award accepted by his partner Deputy Paul Finn.

• Capt. Chad Shelby, of the Criminal Investigation Division, received a Distinguished Service Award and was recognized for representing LPSO at the FBI National Academy earlier this year.

• Sgt. Jennifer Knight received the Distinguished Service Award and was recognized for her attendance at the Northwestern School of Police and Command Staff.

• Lt. Michael Beck, Crossing Guard Eddie Hadley, and Reservists Columbus Kennedy and Dr. Jonathon Allen also received Distinguished Service Awards.

• Maegan Foret, 12, received a certificate of commendation for her courage and quick thinking that helped get a criminal off of the streets. A stranger, who allegedly tried to lure her to join him by saying he was looking for his little sister, approached Foret. She told him, “No,” and immediately left, but he pursued. She began to run and made it home to notify her mother of the encounter. Mother and daughter got in their vehicle and, while on the phone with deputies, spotted the man and made sure deputies found him and took him into custody.

• The following individuals received a certificate of commendation for their role in saving a life in the boater accident: Lt. Danny Eschete; Deputies Shelly Savoie and Sabina Miller; Lt. Valerie Martinez; Capt. Larry Terry, Sgt. Troy Dufrene, and Officer Tait Lafont of the Port Fourchon Harbor Police; Officer Reggie Pitre of the Golden Meadow Police Department; Lt. Chad Hebert of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; Joe Wheeler, port manager for Leonard Miller Airport; and Chief Pilot Rusty Munsey of VIH Cougar Helicopters.

• Civilians Percy and Shannon Billiot each received a certificate of commendation for their assistance in helping deputies track down and apprehend a suspect.

• Susan Martinez received a certificate of commendation for her dedication in helping Hispanic victims in the community by providing service as an interpreter.

• Capt. J.P. deGravelles, Lt. Michael Beck and Deputy Jeff Arceneaux received certificates of commendation for repairing the roof of a disabled LPSO retiree’s home during a thunderstorm after a tornado struck.

• John Hoyt received a commendation for his actions that saved the lives of two people during an incident.

• Communications Deputy Cammie Boudreax-Guidry was commended for her actions in helping identify a suspect in a bank robbery,

• Communications Deputy Brandi-Raye Allemand received a commendation for her efforts in helping bring a suspected killer to justice.

• Communications Deputy Wendy Plaisance received a certificate for her work with children of PACT (Parents and Children Together) Place. The entire communications section was also awarded a unit commendation.

• Unit commendations were awarded to the Proactive Police Unit (Deputy Derek Champagne and Sgt. Richard Reidel), the Training Academy staff, Range Safety Officers and the Information Technology Section. Other individuals who were awarded include Investigation Division Deputy Commander Lt. Todd Charlet, Juvenile Detective Sgt. Toby Gambarella and Patrol Deputy Joseph Anderson.

• Retiree Terry Lyle was recognized for 19 years of service. Lyle was most recently a major in the Information Technology division and was instrumental in leading the Sheriff’s Office to achieve its first National Accreditation.

• Phillip Avery retired after 18 years of service as a bailiff, process server and community service coordinator. Avery received the Sheriff’s Star in 2004.

• Norris Brown retired after 29 years at the Transitional Work Program.

• Gary Price retired after serving as LPSO’s chief financial officer for 13 years.

• Grand Isle Mayor David Camardelle presented an award to Sheriff Craig Webre and Chief Deputy Bud Dill on behalf of the service of the men and women of the sheriff’s office in taking care of the needs of the people of Grand Isle, especially in times of crisis such as tropical storms and hurricanes.

Phyllis Guidry (center) and Sgt. Christopher Guidry, president of the Lafourche Deputies Association, are pictured with Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre at the 2011 Lafourche Pride Awards. COURTESY PHOTO