Pubdate: Sun, 14 Aug 2005 Source: Advocate, The (LA) Copyright: 2005 The Advocate, Capital City Press Contact: http://www.2theadvocate.com/help/letter2editor.shtml Website: http://www.theadvocate.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2 Author: Sonya Kimbrell SLAIN OFFICER LAID TO REST Mourners Recall Faith And Dedication Family, friends and co-workers painted a vivid picture Saturday of a spiritual man who considered law enforcement his mission as they laid to rest Terry Melancon Jr., the narcotics detective killed Wednesday in a shootout with a suspected drug dealer. Melancon's neighbor Lori Daigle told the crowd that one of her last conversations with Melancon was Monday night after he learned that Daigle's grandmother had died. "He said, 'we should be jealous of your grandmother,'" she said, "He said, 'Sometimes this world seems so bad I say, God, you can take me, I'm ready.'" She said in the two years they were neighbors they had many conversations that she described as "anointed," in which they talked freely about their belief in God. "Sometimes when I was down, he would ask me what my purpose was and I would say, 'to save what is lost,'" she said. Melancon died when he and two other police officers tried to search a Capital Heights residence for drugs. Officers Dennis Smith and Neal Noel were wounded. Gergely Garry Devai, the suspected drug dealer, also died. Advocate staff photo by Travis Spradling A river of motorcycle officers leads the funeral procession for fallen officer, Detective Terry Melancon Jr. down Airline Highway near Barringer-Foreman Road on Saturday afternoon. More than 1,200 people packed into the arena-style sanctuary for Melancon's funeral at The Healing Place, where he attended church. The crowd was filled with law enforcement officers of all stripes from all over south Louisiana. Melancon's commander, Lt. Larry Hayes, warned the crowd before he spoke that he probably would cry. Hayes did cry and shared freely his recollections of Melancon. "The first time I saw Terry he knocked on my door. He looked sharp. He said, 'I want to be a narcotics officer,'" Hayes said. They talked for a while, and there wasn't an opening at the time, but eventually he was transferred to the narcotics division. At the end of his eulogy, Hayes invited the crowd to stand and applaud not only for Melancon but all law enforcement. Melancon had been a police officer for four years, Baton Rouge Police Chief Jeff LeDuff said. LeDuff's voice quivered as he described Melancon as "one of my kids." LeDuff was a trainer for years before he became chief earlier this year -- and he trained Melancon. Advocate staff photo by Liz Condo Family members of slain Baton Rouge Police Detective Terry Melancon Jr. bow their heads during graveside services for Melancon Saturday. From left are Roger Melancon, uncle; Lynn Harwell, fiancee; Terry Melancon Sr., father; Vicki Melancon, mother; and Lacey Harrington, sister. He described law enforcement's role as a "bumper zone between chaos and calm." He said that Melancon's death will drive him to accomplish his mission of making Baton Rouge a safer city. "Melancon will be the glue for me," LeDuff said. Melancon's two sisters, Lacey Harrington and Kaylan Melancon, also spoke. They both shared humorous childhood memories and expressed deep love and grief. "He was my brother, my friend, and now, my guardian angel," Harrington said. There was a miles-long procession from the church to Resthaven Gardens of Memory, where Melancon was buried. The funeral canopy was obscured by a sea of police uniforms. The Celtic Society of Louisiana provided a pipe and drum band that played "Amazing Grace," and there was a seven-member rifle squad that fired three volleys. In addition to his sisters, Melancon is survived by his parents, Terry Sr. and Vicki Melancon; his fiancee Lynn Harwell; paternal grandmother, Ernestine Melancon; maternal grandparents, Pat and Ervin LeBlanc; two nieces, Grace and Amelia Harrington and other relatives. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth