Flanked by masses of blue-, green-, black- and khaki-dressed officers from various law enforcement agencies, Gov. Bobby Jindal led a prayer rally on the steps of the State Capitol on Monday to commemorate recent police deaths in Louisiana.
Among the attendees were sheriffs, police chiefs and a class of 66 State Police cadets whose training commenced Aug. 30 — seven days after Louisiana State Trooper Steven Vincent was killed by a suspect with a shotgun while responding to a wrecked vehicle.
“Thank you for being heroes, for running towards danger and not away from it so that we can be safe,” Jindal said during the rally. “Together we stand united in prayer and support for the continued safety of our law enforcement members and the citizens of Louisiana.”
Jindal read aloud the names and agencies of the nine officers killed in Louisiana in 2015, accompanied by statements by police representatives and prayers from local Christian clergymen.
LSUPD spokesman Capt. Cory Lalonde described the recent killings as “even more senseless, even more unprovoked than line of duty deaths in the past.”
“I think officers … very much appreciate the support and prayer from the public and understanding that we have a very difficult job to do,” Lalonde said. “We come into very difficult situations sometimes, and officers do have to make very quick decisions based on the facts they have at that particular instant.”
Rumors, unsubstantiated claims and out-of-context videos pertaining to cases spread quickly on social media, Lalonde said. He encouraged the public to be patient and not jump to conclusions.
Lalonde also encouraged more community education on how officers conduct themselves when responding to incidents.
“What one person may see as an officer … being what they consider rude or aggressive is not necessarily that,” Lalonde said. “From a law enforcement perspective it’s being cautious.”
Reinhard Enders, a Lutheran pastor vacationing from Leipzig, Germany, said he was touched by the proceedings.
“I think it’s awful that people — whatever they do — have to fear that they will not come back alive in the evening,” Enders said.
Enders said he wondered if the widespread availability of firearms in the United States contributed to recent attacks on police.
Retired banker and Florida resident Barbara Seitz attended the event and attributed some of the attacks to perpetrators imitating what they see in the media.
“It almost seems like a lot of it is copycat. They watch it, then they think they’ll become important and be on TV and whatever if they are involved in it, and it’s horrible.” Seitz said. “I don’t know how we’re going to stop it, but we’re going to have to do something.”
Several attendees raised questions over the use of the State Capitol for a religious event, citing separation of church and state concerns.
“I just find it interesting in Louisiana that they pay their officers to go to a prayer rally,” said Melody Jane, an investor from Silicon Valley visiting Baton Rouge.
Jane questioned Jindal’s motives for holding the prayer rally and said she doubts the event would have been held if he were not running for president.
Rally attendee Alberto DePuy, an LSU alumnus, said he was pleased Jindal organized the day of prayer.
“I think doing something like this, recognizing their sacrifice and showing their families that we honor what they do, is important, and I’m glad the governor did it,” DePuy said.

Gallery • 12 Photos

Haskell Whittington

Canine members of the Louisiana police force attend with their human counterparts to the rally on Monday Sept. 14, 2015, at the Louisiana State Capitol.