SLS 21RS-447 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 26
BY SENATORS CORTEZ AND BOUDREAUX
COMMENDAT IONS. Commends Major Luraine Richard on her retirement from the
Lafayette Police Department.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To commend Major Luraine Richard of the Lafayette Police Department upon her
3 retirement, and to congratulate her for a distinguished public service career of
4 thirty-six years in law enforcement.
5 WHEREAS, after witnessing crime firsthand while growing up in a rough
6 neighborhood in Opelousas, Louisiana, Luraine Richard became an officer at age
7 twenty-three with a two-year-old daughter at home and with a mission to effect a positive
8 change in the community; and
9 WHEREAS, she served thirty-six years as a uniformed police officer with the
10 Lafayette Police Department, becoming the first woman to move up through the ranks from
11 patrol officer to major; and
12 WHEREAS, Luraine Richard graduated from the police academy and joined the
13 Lafayette Police Department on January 9, 1985, which she cites as two of the most
14 memorable moments in her career; and
15 WHEREAS, when she joined the department, she was only one of two women on the
16 force and had to prove herself; and
17 WHEREAS, she served as a patrol officer, a training officer, and an investigator
18 before becoming a sergeant in the juvenile section; she later advanced to the rank of
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SLS 21RS-447 ORIGINAL
1 lieutenant, eventually becoming an administrative lieutenant in 2008 for Precinct 1, a
2 crime-prone area of downtown and north Lafayette, staying there through her promotion to
3 captain; and
4 WHEREAS, she worked as an investigator in youth services, dealing with juvenile
5 cases, an adjustment that she loved as it provided a chance to reach kids which then reached
6 the parents; and
7 WHEREAS, not only was Luraine Richard the longest-employed female officer in
8 the department, she was the first to earn a supervisory role, trailblazing her way through
9 promotions to sergeant, lieutenant, and captain; she was the first commander of an entire
10 precinct, and the first woman to achieve the rank of major, making her one of three officers
11 holding the most senior rank below chief; and
12 WHEREAS, Major Richard earned a reputation for being fair but firm with a strong
13 work ethic and a professional demeanor, encouraging new officers coming into the
14 department to find balance in their work, not taking it home with them, and treating people
15 with respect; and
16 WHEREAS, Major Richard has been recognized for bringing a sense of calm, cool,
17 collected, objective, rational thinking, reasonableness, and leadership to the department and
18 the Lafayette community; and
19 WHEREAS, in retirement, she plans to spend more time with her three daughters,
20 son, and three grandchildren; and
21 WHEREAS, it is appropriate that a heartfelt measure of the highest commendation
22 be extended to Luraine Richard for an outstanding career in the field of law enforcement and
23 for her incomparable talents she has lent to the city of Lafayette and the state, whose citizens
24 will long reap the benefits of her knowledge, expertise, compassion, and professional
25 standard of excellence.
26 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
27 commend and congratulate Major Luraine Richard of the Lafayette Police Department upon
28 her retirement after a long and distinguished career of dedicated law enforcement service
29 spanning thirty-six years, does hereby record for posterity her accomplishments, and express
30 appreciation for the deep sense of pride and honor she brings to the Lafayette area and the
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SLS 21RS-447 ORIGINAL
1 state, and does hereby extend to her every good wish for success and happiness in all of her
2 future endeavors.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
4 Major Luraine Richard.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
SCR 26 Original 2021 Regular Session Cortez
Commends Major Luraine Richard for 36 years of dedicated service with the Lafayette
Police Department.
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