This Sunday (Dec. 11), Mayor Mitch Landrieu, NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison, NOFD Superintendent Tim McConnell, EMS Director Dr. Jeffrey Elder and City officials will honor first responders from all of the City’s public safety agencies at the annual inspection and memorial mass celebration in Jackson Square. The event, which includes participation from the police department, fire department and EMS, dates back to the early 1900s and is celebrated in remembrance of those police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians who have bravely sacrificed their lives to the New Orleans community.
The inspection portion of the program will begin in Jackson Square at 10:30 a.m. Participating members from all public safety agencies will line up in a circle inside the park while Mayor Landrieu, Chief Harrison and other agency heads and dignitaries proceed through accompanied by music from the Marine Corps Band New Orleans. Immediately following the inspection, New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond will hold a memorial mass inside St. Louis Cathedral at 11 a.m. The mass will be televised live on WLAE-TV for those who are unable to attend. Both events are free and open to the public.
The NOPD lost four current officers and one retired officer this year, including:
- Officer Natasha Hunter, an 11-year veteran who died June 7, 2016 from injuries sustained in the line of duty;
- Officer Bryan Bordes, a 19-year veteran who died July 3, 2016 from a medical incident while on-duty;
- Officer Tony Mitchell, a 19-year veteran who died August 26, 2016 from injuries sustained off-duty;
- Sergeant Jeffrey Wellborn, an 8-year veteran who died November 15, 2016 from complications after suffering a stroke; and
- Former Officer Jude Lewis, a 3-year veteran who died November 8, 2016 from injuries he received while on-duty in June 2001.
All five officers will be honored at the event.