Eunice Police officers assisting in Baton Rouge
Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot’s badge bears a black ribbon in honor of the slain officers in Baton Rouge on Sunday. Fontenot said police shooting deaths and the death of St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Charles “Blaine” David, of Eunice, resulted in him wearing the ribbon for more than two weeks, which is the longest period he can remember in more than 30 years of law enforcement work. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)
Five Eunice Police officers are in Baton Rouge this week serving there after that city’s police force has been battered by a murderous shooting and days of protests.
Baton Rouge Police and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office requested assistance on Monday.
By Tuesday Lt. Ryan Young, Lt. Mitch Hoke, Officer Nicholas Cooley, Detective Joey Pelloquin and Detective Kevin McFarland has left to serve until Sunday, Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot said.
Baton Rouge Police had faced protesters following the shooting death of Alton Sterling on July 5. A funeral was held for Sterling Friday and there were no large protests that day, and Saturday.
At 8:40 a.m. Sunday, the calm broke when a lone gunman killed two police officers and one deputy, and wounded three others.
The suspect, Gavin Long, of Kansas City, Missouri, was killed in the gun battle.
Patrol units in Baton Rouge were staffed with two officers following the shooting.
Fontenot said Eunice and other departments responded to the request for help “... so they can have the manpower needed to protect the city and give their officers a chance to rest.”
Baton Rouge is providing meals and lodging for the volunteers, he said.
“Sheriff (Sid) Gautreaux is giving each of the officers a commission as an East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s officer,” Fontenot said.
The Eunice Police would be riding with Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office patrols.
The Eunice Police Department has 32 sworn officers.
“We haven’t had any threats. This is a nice peaceful community,” Fontenot said.
But Fontenot said reserve officers are being called up to to help fill out patrols in Eunice.
As of Tuesday, the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office had 10 deputies on standby for duty in Baton Rouge, Maj. Eddie Thibodeaux, public information officer, said in an email.
Acadia Parish Sheriff KP Gibson said in an email, “We have committed 10 deputies to assist in Baton Rouge. We have been asked to keep our deputies on standby as the staffing thus far has been covered. We are prepared to send our personnel with a short notice. We have not been advised of the deputies assignments as of yet. We will assist in any feasible manner requested.”
Acadia Parish has 40 to 45 full-time deputies with enforcement powers and 20 reserve deputies, he said.
“Sunday’s actions sicken me. This is nothing more than domestic terrorism. Officers wear a uniform to protect and serve. But now they are targets,” Gibson said.
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