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Regular Session, 2011 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 21
BY SENATORS DONAHUE, ADLEY, ALARIO, AMEDEE, APPEL, BROOME,
CHABERT, CHAISSON, CHEEK, CLAITOR, CROWE, DORSEY, ERDEY,
GAUTREAUX, GUILLORY, HEITMEIER, JACKSON, KOSTELKA, LAFLEUR,
LONG, MARIONNEAUX, MARTINY, MCPHERSON, MICHOT, MILLS,
MORRELL, MORRISH, MOUNT, MURRAY, NEVERS, PERRY, PETERSON,
QUINN, RISER, SHAW, SMITH, THOMPSON, WALSWORTH AND WILLARD-
LEWIS AND REPRESENTATIVES ABRAMSON, ANDERS, ARMES, ARNOLD,
AUBERT, AUSTIN BADON, BOBBY BADON, BALDONE, BARRAS, BARROW,
BILLIOT, BISHOP, BROSSETT, BURFORD, HENRY BURNS, TIM BURNS,
BURRELL, CARMODY, CARTER, CHAMPAGNE, CHANDLER, CHANEY,
CONNICK, CORTEZ, CROMER, DANAHAY, DIXON, DOERGE, DOVE, DOWNS,
EDWARDS, ELLINGTON, FANNIN, FOIL, FRANKLIN, GALLOT, GEYMANN,
GISCLAIR, GREENE, GUILLORY, GUINN, HARDY, HARRISON, HAZEL,
HENDERSON, HENRY, HENSGENS, HILL, HINES, HOFFMANN, HONORE,
HOWARD, HUTTER, HUVAL, GIROD JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON,
JOHNSON, ROSALIND JONES, SAM JONES, KATZ, KLECKLEY, LABRUZZO,
LAFONTA, LAMBERT, LANDRY, LEBAS, LEGER, LIGI, LITTLE, LOPINTO,
LORUSSO, MCVEA, MONICA, MONTOUCET, MORENO, MORRIS, NORTON,
NOWLIN, PEARSON, PONTI, POPE, PUGH, RICHARD, RICHARDSON, RITCHIE,
ROBIDEAUX, ROY, SCHRODER, SEABAUGH, SIMON, SMILEY, GARY SMITH,
JANE SMITH, PATRICIA SMITH, ST. GERMAIN, STIAES, TALBOT, TEMPLET,
THIBAUT, THIERRY, TUCKER, WHITE, WILLIAMS, WILLMOTT AND
WOOTON
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To commend Covington Police Lieutenant Douglas "Wade" Sharp for extraordinary heroism
in sacrificing his own life to save the life of his daughter.
WHEREAS, Lt. Sharp was a nineteen-year veteran of police work and decorated for his
many acts of bravery and valor in the line of duty, including two awards of the Covington
Police Department's Medal of Valor for his successful efforts to rescue citizens trapped in
burning buildings; and
WHEREAS, he received the department's highest award for his bravery in 1997 by
rushing into a burning apartment and saving a man and his dog in the intense heat and
choking black smoke of fire; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Sharp, ten years later, would receive another award of the highest
honor when he broke through a window in a blazing home, and then searched, found and
carried to safety the resident who had lost consciousness and already suffered serious burns
to more than thirty percent of his body; and SCR NO. 21 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, Lt. Sharp and his young daughter were
camping in Mississippi and sought shelter in their camping tent as they were engulfed by a
violent, howling storm sweeping across Mississippi that spawned numerous tornados; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Sharp, from his experience, realized that the storm that was pounding
him was no ordinary thunderstorm and his awareness of their dangerous situation caused him
to react in a split second when he heard the crack of a giant tree snapping, breaking and
falling on top of the tent they were in; and
WHEREAS, his quick response and instantaneous action allowed him to push his
terrified daughter out of harm's way and out of the path of the massive tree saving her life
and leaving her without injury; and
WHEREAS, while Lt. Sharp saved his daughter, with no thought for his own safety, and
was tragically struck and killed by the tree that would have otherwise harmed her; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Sharp was known and respected among his fellow officers, his many
actions that were above and beyond the call of duty.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby extend
its highest commendations and recognition of Covington Police Department Lieutenant
Douglas "Wade" Sharp's extraordinary and courageous accomplishment in saving the lives
of endangered citizens and for his ultimate sacrifice during the violent storm from which he
protected his daughter.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of Lieutenant Douglas "Wade" Sharp and the Covington Police Department.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES