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CPSO deputy dies in crash

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A Caddo Parish Sheriff's auxiliary deputy died today in a tragic crash on Interstate 49, said Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator.

At approximately 11:56 a.m., Auxiliary Deputy Lonnie Thacker was assisting with traffic control from an earlier accident on I-49 North between Hwys. 530 and 170 when his patrol vehicle was hit on the driver's side by a Kia Sorento. Thacker was inside the vehicle and died at the scene. The driver of the Kia was taken to Ochsner LSU Health with minor injuries.

The crash is being investigated by the Louisiana State Police at the request of the Caddo Sheriff's Office.

"Lonnie Thacker was a dedicated member of the Caddo Sheriff's Office and we are saddened by this loss," Prator said. "The contributions of our auxiliary deputies are so important to our operation and greatly valued by me and all of our deputies. I know he took pride in his work and enjoyed the contribution he was making to his community. His service will never be forgotten. We extend our most sincere sympathies to his family and ask that the community pray for them."  

Thacker joined the Sheriff's Auxiliary Program in May of 2001. The program enlists trained volunteers to assist in the Patrol Division and other areas of the department. They receive no pay for their service. Thacker regularly logged over 500 volunteer hours a year helping patrol deputies with duties such as traffic control, funeral escorts, and neighborhood patrols. He was passionate about litter abatement and keeping the parish clean, according to his supervisors, and he assisted at many CPSO youth programs, including the Youth Firearms Safety Education Camp, Crime Scene Investigations (CSI) Camp, and Sheriff's Safety Town.

"He was one of those all-around guys who if you asked him to do something he would do it, but he preferred being in a patrol car," said Sgt. John Hay, who supervises the Auxiliary Program.

Thacker previously served in the U.S. Army and retired from the Caddo Parish Commission in 2004.

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