By Matt Sledge
The Advocate
NEW ORLEANS — An eight-year veteran of the New Orleans Police Department died Tuesday from a stroke he suffered over the weekend, just days after he was promoted to sergeant.
The death of Sgt. Jeff Wellborn came shortly after that of a former officer who succumbed to injuries he suffered in an on-duty 2001 crash.
Wellborn, who most recently served in the 4th District in Algiers, was one of nine officers who were promoted to sergeant during a Thursday ceremony. In a statement, Police Superintendent Michael Harrison said Wellborn embodied the “true essence of community policing.”
“I was extremely proud to promote him last week,” Harrison said. “We will never forget the sacrifice he made to serve his community.”
Wellborn, the father of two adult sons and a 16-year-old daughter, had used the occasion of his promotion ceremony to thank both his fellow officers and the people of the city.
“I want to really thank all of the ones I’ve worked with over the many years that I’ve been with the department, that have taught me how to be a police officer and how to make good decisions out on the street,” Wellborn said. “But I’d also like to thank, basically, the people of New Orleans for giving us the opportunity to police them.”
Mike Glasser, the president of the Police Association of New Orleans, said that Wellborn, 59, was older than the average officer when he joined the force. But he proved his mettle on the streets, Glasser said.
“He had a good outlook and a mature viewpoint on everything. Clearly he was selected to be a sergeant for a reason. It’s tragic that he died so young,” Glasser said.
Wellborn was off-duty when he suffered the stroke over the weekend.
His death came shortly after that of former officer Jude William Lewis, who died Nov. 8.
Lewis, an Army veteran who joined the NOPD in 1998, was behind the wheel of a police cruiser as he rushed to respond to a report of a fleeing assault suspect on June 1, 2001, according to a Times-Picayune article. His car spun out of control, striking a tree near Washington Avenue and Pine Street. He suffered severe brain injuries that sent him into a coma.
Lewis hung on to life but suffered serious effects from the crash, according to an article that appeared nine months after the incident. He was never able to return to duty.
Tyler Gamble, a Police Department spokesman, said it is believed that Lewis died as a result of his injuries in the crash.
“People always associate the danger of police work with being shot or being stabbed, but sometimes (it’s) just being responsive,” Glasser said. “A lot of time we forget just how dangerous that can be.”
A memorial service for Lewis is set for Wednesday at Resurrection of Our Lord Church, 9701 Hammond St. Visitation begins at 9 a.m., with a Mass at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Slidell.
Wellborn’s services will be Saturday at Parkview Baptist Church, 6301 Camphor St., Metairie. Visitation will be from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., with a funeral service at 6 p.m.