IBERVILLLE — He was 33 years old, a son, brother, husband, father, and someone who believed deeply in protecting and serving his country and community. Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Charles Riley died in the line of duty on Monday, Oct. 6, when a suspect grabbed a deputy’s gun and shot two deputies inside the Iberville Parish Courthouse. Riley was rushed to the hospital but did not survive his injuries.
Riley’s life of service began with the United States Navy. Later, inspired in part by his cousin, an officer with the Gonzales Police Department, Riley developed a strong interest in law enforcement. He joined GPD as a reserve officer under Chief Sherman Jackson in 2018.
“He actually started his career off with us,” Chief Jackson told UWK. “He was a patrol officer with our reserve program. They’re not allowed to ride alone, so they’re paired with a more experienced officer, but he was a good kid. Everyone I know spoke highly of him. Unfortunately, we didn’t have any full-time openings at the time, so he left to join the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office.”
At IPSO, Riley worked the East Iberville area, the St. Gabriel side of the parish, since the Mississippi River divides the jurisdiction…