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A Caddo Sheriff’s deputy who was shot and wounded in the line of duty in February was awarded the department’s Purple Heart today during a ceremony at the Sheriff’s Office Re-entry Facility.

Sheriff  Jay Long presented the award to Cpl. Justin Dunn who was shot in the upper body on February 7 by a suspect wanted on a felony murder warrant.

“There is no routine day in law enforcement,” Long said. “We train and prepare and hope at the end of the day to go home to our loved ones. We are thankful that Justin will be returning to service soon and appreciate the sacrifice he made while protecting our citizens.” 

Dunn and several other law enforcement officers were assisting the U.S. Marshals Task Force in executing an arrest warrant for the suspect at a west Shreveport apartment complex. During the arrest, the suspect produced a firearm and, as a result, shots were exchanged. The suspect was struck and pronounced dead at the scene. Dunn was injured and transported to a local hospital for treatment.

On hand for today’s presentation was Ron Davis, director of the U.S. Marshals Service, which oversees the nation’s regional fugitive task forces. The purpose of each task force is to combine the efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to locate and apprehend the most dangerous criminal fugitives.  

This is the fifth Purple Heart to be presented by the Caddo Sheriff’s Office since 1989. The medal is given to a deputy who sustains serious bodily harm inflicted by an assailant.  

For questions regarding this press release, please contact Brandon Fountain