Deputy Sheriff Benton Paul Bordelon

Benton Paul Bordelon

Deputy Sheriff Benton Bordelon was shot and killed while conducting a narcotics operation with a trooper from the Louisiana State Police.

The two had gone to a local motel in Texas to meet the drug dealer. Deputy Bordelon was shot and killed during the operation.

One man, 20, was arrested two weeks later and charged with capital murder. On July 17, 1979, he was convicted of robbery and sentenced to 20 years. The murder charge was dropped. The other suspect, 26, and the gunman, was apprehended by FBI agents in Portland, Oregon, on August 20, 1979. On October 7, 1981, murder and assault charges were dropped, and the murderer was allowed to plead guilty to robbery only. He was sentenced to 4 years. The chief prosecutor said the case against him on the other charges was too weak.

Deputy Bordelon had served with the Rapids Parish Sheriff's Office for 10 months.