LPD ceremony honors civilian, officers of the year

Inside the Lafayette Police Public Safety Center, a room was filled to the brim with family members, local politicians and police officers Friday morning. Even with nearly every seat filled, dozens of police officers stood in the back, all present to honor their coworkers.

During the ceremony, the civilian and officer of the year were announced and honored, four new police officers were sworn in and the monthly Star City award was given by the mayor.

Several Lafayette council members, Mayor Tony Roswarski and Police Chief Scott Galloway also attended.

Sgt. Scott Anderson and Sgt. Jeremy Rainey officially retired at the ceremony.
Anderson joined the LPD in September 2000 and has been a police officer for 24 years. He was the first and only officer to be both in SWAT and also a K9 handler.
Rainey joined the LPD in January 1998 and has been a police officer for 27 years.

“I couldn’t do this job without the support of my family,” Rainey said to the crowd.
Several other awards were given out, including the Star City Award presented and given by the mayor to Joshua Leveque for his work in responding to a theft.

"Officer Josh Leveque responded to a heartbreaking situation where a thief stole a 4-year old boy's essential crocodile gate trainer used for balancing and walking due to cerebral palsy," Roswarski said of the walker. "Officer Leveque went above and beyond the call of duty while the family gathered funds for replacement, he tirelessly contacted agencies and medical facilities to find a temporary walker. ... Officer Leveque's compassionate initiative ensured that the boy continued his daily activities without interruption."

The civilian of the year award was awarded to JD Feaster, who was recognized for his empathy in an often “thankless job” as an evidence technician.

“It’s a very important job (and) a job I take seriously,” Feaster said. “I want to make a difference for that person that it could affect.

“There's a lot of people behind the scenes that people don’t see …. A lot of people don’t understand that they work very hard to make sure everything is taken care of.”

The officer of the year award was awarded to technician Carson Smith.
Four new police officers were sworn in: Justin Johnson, Tearcy Music, Ian Shell and Jacob Tucker.

The new officers have different backgrounds. Johnson holds certifications in Hazmat, ICS and trench rescue. Music is in the Army Reserves with the rank of E4 Specialist and previously worked at the Department of Child Services. Shell is a former Marine corporal who was placed in the top 1% of Marines. Tucker held military titles as explosive ordnance disposal technician and a part of the bomb squad.

“What I think is important about today is the quality,” Roswarski said. “The quality of the police officers, the civilian staff, the quality of the officers that we’re bringing on to do what’s a very difficult job.

“There’s less and less people in general that are willing to come to work every day and risk their life for somebody else. ... To see those young people stand up there and take that oath, it brings back (memories).”

Roswarski swore his oath to the police department in 1983.

“I feel a deep sense of pride but also a deep sense of obligation,” Roswarski said, reflecting on the duty to swear in new officers. “To ensure that we train them the very best that we can, that we have the best equipment we can, that we have the best facilities that we can to give them every opportunity to be successful, protect our community and to go safe every night to their families.”

The event took months of planning to get all the small details squared away, Police Chief Scott Galloway said.

“It’s special to recognize the employees that put (in) such hard work and dedication,” Galloway said. “We want to show them that we do love them and care about them and we’re proud of their service.”