By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur

NEW ORLEANS – St. John Sheriff Mike Tregre and families of fallen St. John the Baptist Parish Deputies Brandon Nielsen and Jeremy Triche participated in the 12th annual Louisiana Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Service on Wednesday evening to honor their loved ones and the lives of other Louisiana officers that were lost within the last year.

Nielsen and Triche were killed in LaPlace last year while investigating the earlier shooting of Deputy Michael Boyington. After locating the car linked the shooting, the officers began questioning the suspects. A third suspect ambushed the officers and shot at them with a high-powered rifle, killing them and severely wounding Deputy Jason Triche. The suspects were allegedly linked to a domestic terrorist group.

Tregre commended the families of the fallen officers and offered condolences.

“I am here today not because I am sheriff of St. John the Baptist Parish but because I am and forever will be a law enforcement officer in my mind and in my heart. I will never forget the sacrifice that Nielsen and Triche made on Aug. 16, 2012. Because I am sheriff of St. John the Baptist Parish, I will ensure that my department, my community and my parish will never forget them,” said Tregre.

“We stand here today to let the world know that we will never forget the loss of our brothers and sisters in the battle against crime. It does not slow us down or make us weaker. it makes us work harder and become stronger. We will honor their sacrifices every day,” he continued.

Nielsen’s and Triche’s names were added to the memorial along with the names of other officers who died in the line of duty.

The widows of the fallen officers said they are thankful for the memorial service and for the outpouring of community support they have received since their loss.

“I thought it was a beautiful tribute to the officers that made the ultimate sacrifice. I’m making it. You know, I have kids that’re watching every move I make. I have to be strong for them,” said Daniell Nielsen, the widow of Brandon Nielsen.

Misty Triche, the widow of Jeremy Triche, said, “For my son, it’s something he can be proud of for the rest of his life. He may never know his dad, but he’s a hero. Words can’t express what we go through as survivors, but it’s the little things like this that make it easier.”

Contributions to the Louisiana Law Enforcement Officers Memorial can be sent to P.O. Box 851050, New Orleans, LA 70185. For more information on the program, visit www. lleom.com.