Subject: Congratulations Captain Charles “Chip” Wale III, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office – Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association 2020 Deputy Valor Award Winner:
Congratulations Captain Charles “Chip” Wale III, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office – Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association 2020 Deputy Valor Award Winner
Fellow InfraGard Louisiana Members,
Please join me in recognizing fellow InfraGard Louisiana Member Captain Charles “Chip” Wale III, with the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office – Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association 2020 Deputy Valor Award Winner.
Well Deserved My Friend!! / SJSO is very lucky to have You!!
Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association
IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
2020 Deputy Valor Award Winner: Captain Charles “Chip” Wale III, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, recognition for the Deputy Valor and Deputy of the Year Award winners for 2020 was postponed. We now proudly recognize Captain Charles “Chip” Wale III for his heroic actions, and look forward to honoring him in person this summer at the Association’s Annual Conference. The Deputy Valor award recipient is selected based on an individual’s unquestionable performance above and beyond the call of duty and recognizes any extreme life-threatening acts of bravery.
Captain Wale, who has served the St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office for more than 20 years, was working an off-duty detail at a local hospital when he heard the service call for a deputy down. A deputy was ambushed while working an off-duty traffic detail, and other deputies were searching the area for the suspects involved in his attempted murder. Subsequently, four additional deputies responded to a call of suspicious activity at a nearby trailer park. As these deputies began their investigation they were ambushed by at least two of the suspects involved in the previous ambush. When Captain Wale learned that the responsible parties were possibly in the nearby trailer park, he abandoned his detail and headed to that location. Arriving there, Captain Wale encountered continuous gunfire from a man shooting an AK-47 in the direction of himself and other deputies. He saw that three of his fellow deputies had been shot in the initial volley of gunfire.
The initial assailant was injured by return fire from deputies, and fled into an adjacent trailer. Lt. Wale saw that one of his fellow deputies was injured but was able to move. Captain Wale put him in his patrol unit, and the deputy drove himself to the hospital in Captain Wale’s unit. As the unit was leaving, a second gunman began to open fire with the AK-47. Round after round was fired in the direction of Lt. Wale and other deputies on scene. During the course of an over ten minute gunfight, the second assailant fired rounds into and at the wounded and now defenseless deputies.
During the final volley of shots, Captain Wale saw that this last gunman had positioned himself over one of the injured and helpless deputies. The shooter fired again, at point-blank range, killing the deputy. Lt. Wale immediately returned fire and struck the suspect multiple times, ending the shootout. Captain Wale, along with several other deputies, worked as quickly as possible to get to the downed deputies and attempted to give medical aid, to no avail.
Although this particular incident took place on August 16, 2012, the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association had not yet established their Deputy Awards program at that time. When this nominee was submitted to the LSA Awards Committee, they made special exception in an effort to honor Lt. Wale for his valiant and courageous efforts.
St John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office
Best Regards / God Bless,
Lester Millet III, President InfraGard Louisiana