09/02/2026
Chief Richard,
Congratulations on your retirement! We have truly enjoyed working with you and the entire City of DeRidder Police Department. Your strong leadership and the tenacity you brought to your position have made a lasting impact. Your legacy will live on through the many officers and staff members you have guided and inspired throughout your career.
We wish you all the best as you begin this exciting new chapter!
๐
๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ค ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ - ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐
After 33 years of serving the DeRidder Police Department and the City of DeRidder, the time has come for me to officially say goodbye.
When I first put on this uniform more than three decades ago, I could never have imagined the journey that was ahead of me. Over the years, I have had the privilege of serving alongside some of the finest men and women in law enforcement, and I have been blessed to call many of them not only coworkers, but lifelong friends.
To the men and women of the DeRidder Police Department, thank you. Thank you for your dedication, your sacrifice, your professionalism, and for the countless hours you have spent working to protect the people of this community. Being your Chief has been one of the greatest honors of my career. I am incredibly proud of each of you, and I know you will continue to serve this city with the same commitment and integrity that has defined this department for generations.
To the officers whom I have had the opportunity to work with throughout the years, both past and present, you have each played a part in my journey. I will always carry the memories, the laughs, the difficult calls, the victories, and even the challenges with me. There are too many stories to tell and too many names to mention, but please know that I am grateful for every one of you.
To the City of DeRidder and its citizens, I want to say thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving you for the past 33 years. A police officer is entrusted with something incredibly important: the safety and trust of the community they serve. I have never taken that responsibility lightly. It has been an honor to wear this badge and represent this city.
There have been long nights, difficult calls, heartbreaking moments, and days when the job tested every bit of us. But there have also been countless moments that reminded me exactly why I chose this profession. Helping people, protecting others, watching young officers grow into outstanding law enforcement professionals, and being part of this community have made every moment worthwhile.
I may be taking off the uniform, but I will never stop caring about the DeRidder Police Department or the people of this city.
To everyone who has supported me throughout my career from my family and friends, to fellow officers, Chiefs, city leaders, and the great citizens of DeRidder, thank you will never be enough. It has been an honor. It has been a privilege, and it has been one of the greatest chapters of my life.
DeRidder Police Department, thank you for 33 years of memories, brotherhood, and service.
City of DeRidder, thank you for trusting me to serve you. I leave this badge with pride, gratitude, and peace in my heart.
๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐
๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐
๐๐-๐ โ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐.
๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ, ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ซ. ๐๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐ง ๐ก๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ซ.
