RETALIATION WORRIES OFFICERS

Law enforcement officers throughout central Louisiana were on edge Thursday
as the events of the Wise Street standoff unfolded.

When the gunfire finally ended, two Alexandria police Special Response Team
members and the gunman were dead.

Three other officers were injured by gunfire in the attack. Several other
officers were injured also.

SRT team members were met with gunfire from a fully automatic weapon about
12:30 p.m. when they went to serve an arrest warrant at a residence.

The warrant was in reference to a Wednesday morning ambush of a police
officer. The officer's patrol car was riddled with about 20 bullets.

Police said the lone gunman in Thursday's attack is believed to be the same
person who ambushed the officer.

Rapides Parish sheriff's Maj. Herman Walters said he had never seen
anything like this in Alexandria.

Since 1904, four Alexandria police officers have been killed in the line of
duty, and Thursday's double slayings are the first in 32 years.

"APD was physically hurt," Walters said. "Their SRT team was hurt bad."

Officers normally are cautious, but the ambush on Wednesday and Thursday's
attack brings the dangers of law enforcement into reality.

Alexandria Police Chief Tommy Cicardo said officers involved in the
incident were debriefed and will meet with a psychologist. A critical
incidence team from Lafayette was on its way late Thursday evening to offer
counseling to the department's members.

Many ministers called to offer their services to the department, Cicardo
said. He ran out of volunteer department chaplains as the situation progressed.

"We do appreciate everyone who has offered his or her services," he said.
"It means a lot."

Sheriff's deputies involved in the situation also were being offered
counseling, Walters said. Most of the officers had gone home after the
standoff to be with their families.

Walters said the Sheriff's Office has received a number of calls from
cities and parishes throughout the state offering assistance.

Besides handling the emotional strain of the situation, crowd members at
the three-hour standoff indicated there might be retaliation against law
enforcement officers. Officers stood guard as the crowd of onlookers
protested their actions against the unidentified gunman.

Agents held their rifles in plain view and appeared to brace themselves in
case the situation turned into a riot.

Some onlookers were arrested, but overall, the crowd remained under control.

The thought of possible retaliation has some Rapides Parish law enforcement
officers worried.

"We are looking over our shoulder more now," said one officer. "It has
gotten us all shaken."

Officers will continue to be on guard and alert. "It won't be business as
usual for awhile," Walters said. "Friday is going to be hard."

The Sheriff's Office and the Louisiana State Police are offering assistance
as the investigation continues.

Detectives and crime-scene investigators are helping where they are needed,
Walters said.

Thursday's shootout touched more than Rapides Parish, as law enforcement
officers from throughout Cenla were glued to the latest updates.

In Avoyelles Parish, officers were worried since two of their men were
assisting police in Alexandria. Neither was injured in the standoff.

Grant Parish sheriff's Chief Deputy Preston Mosley said an incident of this
nature has an impact on all law enforcement.

"Our hearts go out to the department," he said. "And, we are all on edge
after this."