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f0fs24 cf0 National Police Week remembers fallen heroes

By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE ‘d0’d0 The Louisiana State Police joined law enforcement agencies nationwide this week for National Police Week: Remembering Our Fallen’dc Heroes.

Troopers participated this week in the ‘d2Fly the Blue’d3 campaign by tying a blue ‘d2Concern of Police Survivors’d3 (COPS) ribbon on the antenna of all the police units.

The blue ribbon is a reminder of all law enforcement officers that have lost their lives, according to Louisiana State Police Public Affairs Officer Sgt. Catherine Flinchum.

In 2005, 51 law enforcement officers were killed while on duty, one of them was Jim Matkin of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Flinchum stated.

Matkin was killed in an automobile accident early morning in March on his way to meet another officer for patrol and lost control of his vehicle. Matkin was with the department since November 1999, according to Chief Law

Enforcement Officer Keith LaCaze of the LDWF, St. James Parish Sheriff Willy J. Martin Jr. said the sheriff’d5s department will show their support.

‘d2We’d5ve been fortunate,’d3 said Martin. ‘d2We have not lost any of our men in the line of duty, but we continue our support and ask that everyone ties a blue ribbon on their car..’d3

Throughout the history of Louisiana State Police, 24 Troopers have lost their lives. In remembrance of these Troopers, the LSP held a ceremony on Monday at the State Police Headquarters in Baton Rouge, to honor the Troopers.

Approximately 200 people showed for the event, according to Flinchum.

In remembrance of the 24 Troopers honored please visit the LSP Memorial website at www.lsp.org/memorial.html to view pictures and mini’d1biographies of the men. }