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In The Line Of Duty
KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY
ANYWAY

    People are often unreasonable,
illogical and self-centered;
        Forgive them anyway.
    If you are kind, people may
accuse you of selfish, ulterior
motives;
        Be kind anyway.
    If you are successful, you will
win some false friends and some
true enemies;
        Succeed anyway.
    If you are honest and frank, people
may cheat you;
        Be honest anyway.
    What you spend years building,
someone may try to destroy
overnight;
        Build anyway.
    If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
        Be happy anyway.
    The good you do today, people
will often forget tomorrow;
        Do good anyway.
    Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
        Give the world the best you've
got anyway.
    You see, in the final analysis, it is
between you and our God;
        It was never between you and
them anyway.
 Todd Touchet died, Saturday, January 8, 2000, when he was shot during an undercover narcotics operation in Sabine Parish. Touchet was working with the Sabine Parish Sheriff's Department and other law enforcement agents in this undercover operation. Touchet went into the Eight-Ball Lounge, located 10 miles west of Zwolla, on LA 1250, to attempt to buy drugs. While Touchet attempted to make a drug deal, a companion of Joseph Lee Sepulvado, 27, of Zwolle, pulled a knife on him. Touchet left the bar and was backing out of the parking lot of the lounge when Sepulvado stepped out and fired five shots at the truck. Three of the bullets fired, from a .270 caliber rifle, hit the truck, one of them struck Touchet above the left eye and lodged in the rear of the cab. Two other occupants of the truck took control and drove the truck one block, where they discovered Touchet was dead. Sepulvado was arrested and charged with one count of first degree murder and two counts of attempted first degree murder. He is presently being held in the Sabine Parish Jail. Divers from the Sabine Parish Fire District 1 recovered the rifle from the Toledo Bend Reservoir. As of the press release given after January 8, 2000, this is the information that was published about the shooting. Further news release has conflcting stories about what really happen. The investigation was turned over to the Louisiana State Police to determine what actually happen.
Precious Memories

For Abbeville Police Chief, Mike Hardy, Sgt. Touchet's death brings back memories. "It's been 7 years since my brother was killed, but something like this makes if feel like yesterday." said Hardy. Hardy's brother, too, was killed in the line of duty. Hardy visited the Vincent Funeral Home in Kaplan on Monday, January 10th, to express his condolences to Touchet children. Thinking of the letter Chelsea left in her father's coffin, Hardy says, "I just think of leaving behind children without a father. You can set up any number of memorial funds, but you can never account for the big deficit those children will feel in their hearts." Hardy also said the loss would be difficult for VPSO employees. "Something like this makes you not want to hire kids anymore. Todd was 35, but that's still a kid, he still had most of his life ahead of him. He still had his children to raise. It makes you want to hire older people, but you can't because the pay is so low." Hardy, whose own children often competed against the Cow Island Biddy Basketball team that Touchet coached, said he would miss Touchet in more ways than just professionally. "Things like this remind you that it's not just a nine to five job. People get killed here. But it pulls people together too, because you never know which day will be your last."
Sheriff Lemaire whole-heartedly agreed with that last comment made by Mike Hardy. "If criminals think this will deter us from doing our jobs, they are sadly mistaken,"  Lemaire stated. "Law enforcement officers are a tightly knit family. Something like this galvanizes us into a stronger team to combat crime. He died doing something he liked. Todd was the first Vermilion Parish sheriff's deputy killed in the line of duty." Lemaire says about Todd's family, "We're going to have to start taking care of them now." A memorial trust fund has been established at two local banks for Touchet's children. Those interested in contributing may do so by contacting the Todd Touchet Memorial Fund at the Vermilion Bank and Trust Co., Acct. #0689874, 420 North Cushing, Kaplan, 70548 or the Jeremy and Chelsea Touchet Trust Fund at Gulf Coast Bank, Acct. #0296732, Abbeville, 70510.  "Todd loved to hunt and fish," Lemaire said, "He was a typical Cajun that loved the outdoors.
"A Part of America Died"

Somebody killed a Policeman today and
A part of America died
A piece of our country he swore to protect
Will be buried with him at his side
The suspect who shot him will stand up in court,
With counsel demanding his rights
While a young widow mother must work for her kids,
and spend many long, lonely nights.
The beat that he walked was a battlefield too,
Just as if he'd gone off to war
Though the flag of our nation won't fly at half mast,
To his name they will add a gold star
Yep, somebody killed a Policeman today,
In your town or mine
While we slept in comfort behind our locked doors,
A cop put his life on the line
Now his ghost walks a beat on a dark city street,
And he stands at each new rookie's side
He answered the call, of himself gave his all
And a part of America died.

In Honor Of Sgt. Todd Touchet
Killed In The Line Of Duty January 8, 2000

From John Hardy's Family

Please join in support of Sgt. Touchet's Family with your thoughts and prayers.
Your Point Of View

Dear Editor,
      As an ex-narcotics agent for the Vermilion Parish Sheriff's Office, I would like to make a few things clear about the true job of a narcotics officer. First, let me explain the type of situations we encountered daily as agents. Yes, if we were working in an undercover capacity we would love to have had all the modern accommodations that you may have read about in certain newspapers, such as body transmitters, cameras, etc. That is a picture perfect situation. But the truth is that his situation rarely presents itself in the "Real" world of narcotics. Any agent that has done the job with any success will echo my sentiments. There are times when it is just not possible to have a cover team near because off the location and the nature of the transactions. In other words, if suspected drug dealers were to see a narcotics officer in the area, this would compromise the undercover agents in a greater way. Second, the plain truth is that many offices are not equipped with either the technical devices or the manpower to have the "IDEAL" drug operation. So, coming from an agent that worked numerous cases throughout the state, I feel I am more than qualified to comment on such a situation.
     Are we prepared to ask all officers of the law to work their shift and go home and forget about being a law enforcement professional? As an officer myself, I can state that we as a whole are always expecting to answer the call to duty whether it is during our assigned shift or not, and for a narcotics officer when he or she accepts the job they realize that these hours may be at any time of the day or night. The job is a 24 hours a day job.
     The most troubling thing I feel is the way certain media influences reported on the unsubstantiated allegations. Persons who knew nothing of Sgt. Todd Touchet's personal life were not being asked to give their opinion of him. Allegations of drug use were being reported before this HERO was laid to rest.  I wish to thank those who were asked of these questions for their support of Todd and his family. Again, I feel I am more than qualified to answser these allegations of Todd because I along with many others knew Todd the "man," not just the officer. Integrity, honor and honesty is what he was all about and not if, but when the reports are proven to be unfounded, the damage is done to this hero's family and career. Another thing I found odd is that in all my years of law enforcement, I was taught an investigator is to comment on facts of a case and not assumptions or what they think may be the facts. This can also lead to rumors or misunderstandings that cloud the truth.
     I am making a personal plea from the bottom of my heart that any form of media or person that hears such rumors about anymore in the future whether it be an officer, civilian or politician, ask yourself first, is it worth tarnishing that person and their family before you know the whole story. You know sometimes getting to be the first to tell a story to another or being the first to get out that breaking news can do more damage than good.
     Sit back for a few seconds and ask yourself, what if this was me and my family? What type of legacy would you want to leave behind?
     To those who may say that reporting is a job and must be done, I agree. But reporting truth and not making suggestive comments is what it is all about. Informing the public of the truth is the main job of the media, politicians and civilians, and I am proud to say that this letter is written in the fullness of truth to honor a fallen hero Sgt. Todd Touchet and his family.
                                                                                                         Respectfully,
                                                                                                         Drew David
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