By Jeff Adelson
Times-Picayune
NEW ORLEANS — The story is all too familiar to those in law enforcement: two of their own shot down while trying to arrest a suspect.
The incident at Perdido and Rampart streets in New Orleans led to a daylong chase and running shootout that ended when the suspect was cornered by the officers’ comrades and shot to death.
“The guns that were being used weren’t Glocks or Sig Sauers; they weren’t semi-automatics. They were single-action Colts. This wasn’t a car chase; it was a chase that was done on horseback,” U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said.
“And didn’t happen last year; it happened in December 1898, and the 36-year-old officer who was killed in the line of duty was an Irish officer who was my great-grandfather.”
Letten’s story underscored the risk officers have faced throughout the centuries. That risk was readily acknowledged by the hundreds of members of St. Tammany Parish’s law enforcement community who gathered to honor their fallen brethren Thursday morning at the Slidell headquarters of the Sheriff’s Office.
Letten’s speech came as part of the parish’s annual recognition of Peace Officers Memorial Day. Officers and family members gathered in the scorching heat to remember comrades killed in the line of duty as well as those who died of other causes.
“All of these officers, every single deputy, all of them face the risk of not coming back,” said Letten, who told of wearing his great-grandfather’s belt and pretending to be a police officer as a child. “And they do it to protect our way of life and the lives of our families.”
There have been 10 St. Tammany law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty: Sheriff’s Office Deputy Hilery Mayo Jr., Sgt. Linden “Beau” Raimer, Sgt. Louis Wagner III and Sgt. John William Bonnell III; Folsom Police Officer Randal “Randy” Spearman; Slidell Police Sgt. Earl Alfred; State Police Sgt. Rudolph Miller; Covington Police Patrolman Clarence Marigney; and Mandeville Police Officers Jake Galloway and Gus Gill.
Wagner’s family received special attention Thursday, as Deputy Chief Donald Sharp presented his children with a hat he had been given by Wagner’s wife.
Wagner had just come off duty and was driving to meet Bonnell, who was later slain in an unrelated incident, and Sharp in July 1978 when he was boxed in by two cars. Someone from one of the cars shot Wagner, who managed to make it to the parking lot of a funeral home before succumbing to his wounds, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. George Bonnett said.
Police believe Wagner was specifically targeted by his killer, who was never caught, Bonnett said.
After Wagner’s death, his widow gave Sharp her husband’s hat and told him to pass it on to their children when the time was right.
Wagner was killed five months before his son, Matt Wagner, was born. As he stood holding his father’s hat after the event, Wagner said he was filled with pride.
“It was hard when I was younger,” Wagner said. “But now that I’m older, I appreciate his service and I’m proud.”
The event was closed with rifle volleys from law enforcement, a rendition of taps by a U.S. Marine and a promise by Sheriff Jack Strain to the families of the fallen.
“Your loved ones will be remembered,” Strain said.
Copyright 2009 Times-Picayune