Corporal Craig Meredith Receives the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association Valor Award
In an effort to honor the selfless work of Louisiana’s 14,000 deputies, the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association’s Deputy of the Year and Deputy Valor Award winners were recognized during the Louisiana Legislative Session Tuesday, May 15th.
Ouachita Parish Corporal Craig Meredith, winner of the Valor Award, has served for 13 years at the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office. He began his career as a deputy sheriff working in corrections at the Ouachita Correctional Center. In 2007, he transferred to the Patrol Division where he is currently assigned. In 2012, he was promoted to the rank of Corporal. Corporal Meredith previously served on the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Apprehension Team (SCAT) and is a current member of the Ouachita Parish SWAT unit.
Last fall, Corporal Meredith responded to a call at a residence in Monroe, Louisiana. The victim, an elderly male, was having great difficulty breathing and was unresponsive. Upon arrival, Corporal Meredith noticed the victim’s blue discoloration and immediately began rendering first aid. After tilting the victim’s head back to open the airway, he found and removed a foreign object blocking air flow. The victim’s breathing immediately improved and discoloration began to subside. Corporal Meredith continued administering first aid until medical services arrived. Corporal Meredith was instrumental in saving the victim’s life. Corporal Meredith’s dedication, professionalism, and outstanding service to the citizens of Ouachita Parish deem him worthy of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association’s Deputy Valor Award. For his actions, Corporal Meredith was also recognized as Deputy of the Year recently by the West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce. He is to receive the LSA Valor Award at the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association Conference in July.
The Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association accepts nominations each year from the state’s 64 sheriffs and the winners are selected by the Sheriffs’ Awards Committee. The Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association is honored to highlight the meritorious contributions of Louisiana’s professional deputy sheriffs.
The Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association is a bipartisan organization, composed of Louisiana’s 64 sheriffs and nearly 14,000 deputy sheriffs, established to represent Louisiana’s chief law enforcement officers across the state. The Association’s purpose is to maintain the constitutional authority of the sheriff as chief law enforcement officer, ensure the delivery of first-rate services, and to sponsor legislation that promotes the administration of criminal justice.
