In Zachary, March 12 is now set aside as a day remembering the service of former police chief John Herty and slain reserve police officer and deputy fire chief Chris Lawton.
With members of the Herty and Lawton families on hand, Mayor David McDavid read proclamations designating the day of remembrance during the April 9 City Council meeting.
The date was chosen because Herty and Lawton both died on March 12 鈥 Herty in 2011 due to heart issues and Lawton in 2018 when a suspect he was trying to arrest drove into him.
Herty was elected police chief in 2006. Earlier in his career with the Zachary Police Department, he encouraged a young McDavid to join as a reserve officer. McDavid would go on to spend a career in law enforcement before becoming chief himself and, most recently, mayor.
鈥淚 owe a lot to John Herty,鈥 McDavid said.
McDavid was police chief when Lawton died in the line of duty. He has often called Lawton a 鈥渄ouble hero鈥 because of his service to both the fire and police departments.
Lawton was working with another officer to try to apprehend Albert Franklin, an aggravated battery suspect, outside the Walmart in Baker. Franklin, driving a U-Haul truck, ran over Lawton, leading to the Zachary Police Department鈥檚 first-ever line-of-duty death.
Also at the meeting, the council recognized women who were the first females to hold various city offices. They included Carol 鈥淛eannie鈥 Latil, the first elected councilwoman; Peggy Lantrip, the first woman appointed to fill an unexpired council term; Amanda Costello, the first female building inspector; and Rebecca Kelley, the first woman to serve as chief administrative officer.
The recognition came after the council鈥檚 recent adoption of an ordinance designating councilwoman as a title. Previously, male and female council members alike were legally referred to as councilmen.
