Hundreds remember area first responders during annual Mass at St. Louis Cathedral
Dec 13, 2015
Hundreds attended Mass on Sunday in the French Quarter to remember those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
The celebration Mass at St. Louis Cathedral brought together family, friends and the community to pay tribute to area first responders. Sunday's occasion offered peace and hope for police officers, firefighters and paramedics.
Watch report here
In 2015, three police officers have been killed in the line of duty.
Officer James Bennett Jr. died in May after he was shot in Central City while patrolling a construction site. He was an officer for the Housing Authority of New Orleans.
In June, Officer Daryle Holloway was shot and killed while taking a prisoner to jail. He was a 22-year veteran with the NOPD.
Officer Vernell Brown died after he was hit by a car on Interstate 10 while responding to a vehicle fire. He had been with the NOPD for 17 years.
Bennett, Holloway and Brown were honored during Sunday's mass.
"Losing officers is something that we know happens, but we never want it to happen. And, when we come together to celebrate their lives, this Mass brings out a lot of feelings. It hurts to hear the whistle blow and hear the trumpet blast that final sound, but it makes you remember them because as long as we remember them they live," said NOPD Sgt. Walter Powers Jr.
"It's a very dangerous job, but we chose to do this job. We don't do it for plaques on the wall or medals on our uniforms, we do it for simple thank you," said Ken Bouvier, deputy chief for News Orleans Emergency Medical Services.
"Day in and day out we provide public safety and that story just doesn't get it bubbled up to the top all the time, but day in and day out we are working hard to make our city safe," said Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman.
The Mass is the oldest of its kind remembering the work of fire, police and emergency medical departments in the state of Louisiana. So far this year, nine police officers in Louisiana have been killed in the line of duty. Louisiana is second behind Texas in the number of officers killed in 2015.
The celebration Mass at St. Louis Cathedral brought together family, friends and the community to pay tribute to area first responders. Sunday's occasion offered peace and hope for police officers, firefighters and paramedics.
Watch report here
In 2015, three police officers have been killed in the line of duty.
Officer James Bennett Jr. died in May after he was shot in Central City while patrolling a construction site. He was an officer for the Housing Authority of New Orleans.
In June, Officer Daryle Holloway was shot and killed while taking a prisoner to jail. He was a 22-year veteran with the NOPD.
Officer Vernell Brown died after he was hit by a car on Interstate 10 while responding to a vehicle fire. He had been with the NOPD for 17 years.
Bennett, Holloway and Brown were honored during Sunday's mass.
"Losing officers is something that we know happens, but we never want it to happen. And, when we come together to celebrate their lives, this Mass brings out a lot of feelings. It hurts to hear the whistle blow and hear the trumpet blast that final sound, but it makes you remember them because as long as we remember them they live," said NOPD Sgt. Walter Powers Jr.
"It's a very dangerous job, but we chose to do this job. We don't do it for plaques on the wall or medals on our uniforms, we do it for simple thank you," said Ken Bouvier, deputy chief for News Orleans Emergency Medical Services.
"Day in and day out we provide public safety and that story just doesn't get it bubbled up to the top all the time, but day in and day out we are working hard to make our city safe," said Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman.
The Mass is the oldest of its kind remembering the work of fire, police and emergency medical departments in the state of Louisiana. So far this year, nine police officers in Louisiana have been killed in the line of duty. Louisiana is second behind Texas in the number of officers killed in 2015.
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