In the late summer of 1988, the community of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, was struck by a sudden and tragic loss with the death of 41-year-old Deputy Sheriff Kathleen Angie Briscoe. A nine-year veteran of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, Briscoe was known for her dedication and compassion. Her untimely death occurred under unfortunate and accidental circumstances while she was assisting a fellow officer.
On the evening of September 5, 1988, Deputy Briscoe, though off-duty at the
time, responded to a burglary call on the Westbank Expressway in Gretna to assist another deputy. During an attempt to arrest a suspect, a struggle broke out. In the ensuing chaos, with her weapon drawn, Deputy Briscoe stepped backward, lost her balance, and tragically fell over a guardrail.
As she fell, her firearm discharged, and the single bullet struck her in the head. She was immediately rushed to West Jefferson Hospital for medical attention. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Deputy Sheriff Kathleen Angie Briscoe succumbed to her severe injury two days later, on September 7, 1988. The official ruling on her death was an inadvertent discharge of her firearm. Consequently, there were no suspects or arrests in connection with this tragic incident that claimed the life of a dedicated public servant.
