By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Corp. Douglas Richardson Sr. of the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office is a humble and rather quiet guy who values the “low-key” side of life. Richardson, 40, said law enforcement runs in the family.
“My father’s been a cop for 40 years. My grandfather was a deputy, and my little brother is in law enforcement,” he said.
Though he doesn’t know details about what office his grandfather worked for during his career, he jokingly said “I think they rode horses back then and threw rocks.”
The Corrections Division officer was recently thrown into the spotlight when he received the American Legion Post 366’s Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. Richardson said he was thankful to be chosen for the honor but was quite surprised. Richardson thinks his motorcycle may have gotten him noticed in the first place. The officer drives a red and black Kawasaki Vulcan Classic in his spare time.
“I didn’t apply for it. The American Legion Hall Post 366 sponsors the Destrehan and St. Rose-area Cub Scout pack. I believe one time I rode my motorcycle to a meeting,” he said. “They saw my stickers, and we just got to talking and got to know each other, and they surprised me one day and said ‘Hey we’re nominating you for Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.’ I’m very very humbled and very very honored.”
“My little boy was beaming. My daughter, if i’m not mistaken, even put something on Twitter about it. For a 16-year-old to put something on Twitter about her dad, it’s something,” he said about his family’s reaction to his award.
His community involvement may also have had something to do with the nomination. Even though he works six days a week, the father of two makes time to be involved with several community organizations — he is the den leader of his son’s Cub Scout pack (Pack 267 Weblos) and the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office Color Guard.
“I’m a caring person. I truly and honestly care about others and my community and things around me,” he said when asked to describe himself.
He also is involved in motorcycle-related groups such as and the Wounded Warrior Project, among others. The Patriot Guard Riders is a motorcycle club whose members attend the funerals of fallen U.S. armed forces members, firefighters and police at the invitation of the deceased’s family to oppose any protesters. The Wounded Warrior Project is a program that helps servicemen and women transition into civilian life after dealing with a severe injury.
“I try to help promote it, just through word of mouth and friends. I believe the Wounded Warrior Project is extremely important. They’re doing a lot of good for the guys that are coming home. It’s a good organization that really goes out of it’s way to help soldiers adjust to civilian and home life,” he said.
When he’s not working or out in the community, Richardson said that he likes to hunt and fish or enjoy a nice steak, cooked rare. In 30 years, Richardson will be 71. He sees himself as a happy retiree, doing what retirees do best — fishing.
“(I’ll be) sitting at a camp somewhere on the bayou. Yeah, fishing somewhere,” he said with a chuckle.