Editorial

Shots rang out Monday evening and lives were shattered for families in the City of Ville Platte and Evangeline Parish.
Deputy Marshal Barry Giglio, who was well known and liked in law enforcement, was killed. Another person in the shooting was killed while another person was critically injured. Both were in the residence while police were serving a narcotic search warrant.
The shooting was senseless and tragic. There are several families, including a police officer family, whose lives will never be the same. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all involved.
The Giglio family will never have their loved one walk through the door again.
Former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer once said, “Law enforcement officers are never ‘off duty.’ They are dedicated public servants who are sworn to protect public safety at any time and place that the peace is threatened. They need all the help that they can get.” We agree, for the most part, law enforcement officers are in a thankless and dangerous job.
The events that led to the shooting on Monday evening are still being investigated by the State Police. While we want answers now, we must let the State Police conduct its investigation. This may take several days before an official report will be released. This we do know, two people, including a police officer, have been killed and another person is fighting for her life in an area hospital.
Police officers know that each time they put on their uniform, they are taking on risks to protect others. Officers put the badge on every day, not knowing for sure if they’ll come home at night to take it off.
The coming days will be trying times forall residents of Ville Platte and Evangeline Parish. This is such a close knit community where everyone knows everyone. The coming days will be hard to grasp the events that happened, but these events should never be forgotten.
We see the news everyday of gun violence across the nation that kills several people. We have prayed that it doesn’t happen in our community but that ended Monday night and shook the Ville Platte and Evangeline Parish community to its knees.
Being a good police officer, like Deputy Marshal Barry Giglio, is one of the most difficult and dangerous jobs in the world. Police officers know their lives are in danger every time they put on the uniform and go out to work with the public. Most people don’t understand what an officer does when he puts on the badge. A police officer puts his or her life in danger to keep you safe, which is why you should be forever grateful. The caution the officer uses on every call is correct because he doesn’t know what he will encounter when he walks up to a home or automobile.
While the investigation continues, we need to show support to the families of the slain police officer and his fellow officers of the law enforcement community. It’s an over used saying, but now is the time for “Evangeline Parish Strong.” We need to come together, pray for peace and unity as a community, and show we are a strong in the time of adversity. We must honor, protect and support our police officers and their families every day of the year.
Over time, our fears and concerns will ease. The police will continue their patrols, talking to people in the community, and putting themselves in the line of fire. That will even continue this week, however, we need to give support to the Giglio family along with members of all police agencies and first responders in Evangeline Parish.

Garland Forman
Publisher
Ville Platte Gazette