By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Hundreds of residents from across the River Parishes turned out Friday evening to offer condolences and support to the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office and to the families of the officers killed or wounded in action following Thursday’s ambush-style attack.

Joined by government leaders, sheriff’s deputies, firefighters and emergency medical technicians, residents packed the lawn of the Percy Hebert building in LaPlace for a candlelight vigil held just after dusk Friday. After assembling inside with Sheriff Mike Tregre, distraught family and friends of Jeremy Triche, Brandon Nielsen, Michael Scott Boyington and Jason Triche were led to the lawn, where a small shrine to the fallen officers was set up.

“I take a look out into this crowd, and I see people from all walks of life,” said Sgt. Michael Hoover, who served as master of ceremonies. “We are St. John. We will not back down. We will stand firm, and we will overcome.”

Large portraits of Nielsen and Jeremy Triche, the two officers killed Thursday, were set on either side of a spray of roses on a table lined with tea-lights. The large crowd circled the small memorial, where various speakers from the Sheriff’s Office came forward to speak a few words about the officer he or she knew best. Most were forced to pause briefly to regain composure, as the events of Thursday were still very fresh on everyone’s minds.

“I first met Jeremy four years ago when he came into my office with an application to join the Sheriff’s Office,” said deputy Toni Flynn. “His passion for law enforcement was strong.”

Deputy Bailey Newsome talked of meeting Nielsen in 2002 when both men worked the traffic division. He said Nielsen’s desire for law enforcement goes back to when he was 3-years-old, when he wanted to be a California Highway Patrolman.

“He had a real passion for motorcycles,” Newsome said. “He was my partner and my friend, and I will miss him.”

When speaking about Boyington, assistant St. John District Attorney Bridget Dinvaut said she has always been impressed by his passion and the way he handled himself in the courtroom.

“He has never been one to complain about his duties and is always dedicated to the work,” she said. “Scott is my friend, and I thank God he survived.”

Deputy Stacy Millet recalled meeting Jason Triche when he worked with Millet’s father at LaPlace Drywall.

“In 2003, he went to the Sheriff’s Office as a corrections officer,” Millet said. “He is one of our true heroes.”

St. John Chief Deputy Tregg Wilson read the Police Officers’ Prayer, a touching testament to the dangerous but necessary job of law enforcement. Neil Bernard, pastor at New Wine Christian Fellowship, lead the crowd in an emotional Our Father, and everyone joined hands in prayer.

Toward the end of the night, Tregre galvanized the crowd and gave the community a sense of hope that St. John Parish will move forward from this tragedy.

“We will stand strong, no matter what,” Tregre said. “Do not forget this day. Carry this deep within your heart, your soul and your mind. We will overcome!”