By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LULING — Nearly two years have passed since St. John the Baptist Parish Deputy Jeremy Triche was killed on duty, and many in the community are working hard to ensure his name and dedication as a public servant are never forgotten.

Triche was one of two deputies shot and killed in an ambush-type attack at a LaPlace trailer park on Aug. 16, 2012. Triche, 28, and Brandon Nielsen, 34, were killed while responding to a separate shooting of another deputy working a detail near a LaPlace parking lot. Two other deputies, Jason Triche and Michael “Scott” Boyington, were injured in the attacks that day.

Triche was survived by his wife Misty McTopy Triche and son Kade.

Chuck Bazile, now with the Pontchartrain Levee District Police, was working with the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office in 2012 and was Triche’s supervisor at the time of his death. For the past two years, Bazile has organized the Jeremy Triche Narcotics K-9 Competition.

The second annual competition was held June 7. Over 30 highly trained K-9 teams competed in the competition, which involved the detection of narcotics hidden in desks, filing cabinets, electrical fixtures and other various items.

Bazile said it is important to him to keep Jeremy’s name associated with K-9 efforts, which require additional time and training on top of standard police training.

“Having a K-9 is like having another child,” Bazile said. “You have to be totally dedicated to it, and Jeremy was.”

Bazile said Jeremy’s dogs, Roy and Jango, are still with the St. John Sheriff’s Office and Jango participated in this year’s competition.

Misty accepted the Medal of Valor Award from the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association at the competition in recognition of Jeremy’s service.

Presenting the award were NNDDA past presidents Bazile, Gabby Guerra Palma and Tony Viator and current NNDDA board member Billy Jordan.

“Kade and I would like to extend our gratitude to every one that contributed to this event,” Misty Triche said. “This ultimately keeps the memory of Jeremy in the forefront, and we look forward to many more successful competitions in the future.”

The competition was held at R.K. Smith Middle School in Luling and was hosted by the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office. All proceeds benefited the Jeremy Triche Memorial Fund.

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office winners at the competition included Mark Ceravolo and K-9 Jango, Jeremy’s Dog, winning fifth place; sixth place winners Michael Dean and K-9 Fox; and Steven Dailey and K-9 Ghost securing seventh place. In the Team Category, Steven Dailey and Michael Dean won first place.