OPELOUSAS, La. ( KLFY )– Three trailblazers were honored Saturday for being the first Black police officers in Opelousas.
In the 1950s, Bernard Lewis, Phillip Stelly and Julius Guillory joined the Opelousas Police Department during a time of racial segregation. As a result, they were honored for their contributions to the community.
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During the ceremony, the families of each officer gave their remarks on how they have been impacted by their legacies. A couple of Lewis’ family members were there. Bernard Lewis’ grandson, Bernard Lewis III, said his grandfather’s testament to inspire and uplift resonates with him.
“I’ve heard a lot of stories about my grandfather from being a young man to the age I am now,” he said. “I’m still hearing stories and it’s just beautiful to see that somebody related to me was able to make a big difference in his community in his time.”
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