Falgoust honored for career

When this calendar year comes to a close, Hot Springs County will bid farewell to Sheriff Lou Falgoust, who has spent nearly 48 years in law enforcement, 25 of which have been in Thermopolis and Hot Springs County.

Last week, members of the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASCOP) travelled to Thermopolis to honor Sheriff Falgoust for his years of service.

Mike Hays, the executive officer for WASCOP, said Falgoust has been a great supporter of the organization. Hays recalled he met the sheriff one night while he was in the ER visiting someone and the two hit it off. Falgoust is someone who "truly believes in what he does, and believes in the life he's chosen" Hays said.

Hays further noted Falgoust is one of five sheriffs retiring this year, and he's said Thermopolis is where he was meant to be.

Prior to Falgoust's receiving his award, WASCOP members shared stories about him and their own careers, and the sheriff's daughter, Christine, provided all with a few tidbits about the man.

Falgoust began his law enforcement career in Lake Charles, La. in February 1971. In his 20-plus years at the Lake Charles City Police Department he worked everywhere, from traffic to detectives, from tact team to undercover in narcotics. He oversaw multiple officers and dispatchers, and is still something of a legend at that department.

He also worked side jobs such as security for Bingo games, and was head of security at a local shopping mall where among his duties were making sure employees made it safely to their vehicles after the mall closed and walking through stores to make sure they were clear and safe.

Skipping ahead to 1988 in Wyoming, on a hunting trip Falgoust heard of a job in Thermopolis. In 1992, he began working for the Thermopolis Police Department until taking a hiatus and starting a restaurant with his wife in Cheyenne in 1994. After about a year, he returned to the Thermopolis PD. During this time he also worked as a ranger for Hot Springs and Boysen state parks.

He continued nightly checks of stores in town and walked downtown just to get to know people and let him know he was there. Christine wrote that for Lou it's always been about being a positive presence in the community.

"His philosophy on being a policeman," she wrote, "has been that if you're there when you're not needed, people won't be scared to call you when they do. He has always been focused on being approachable to young people, a kind helping hand to the elderly and a decent human being to all in between . . . Numerous people have said he has been a positive influence, he helped them choose to change, that he gave them a chance and above all he treated them fairly and with integrity.

"I feel very strongly that those characteristics attributed to him being elected Sheriff of Hot Springs County in 2002 . . . on his daughter's 25th birthday . . . [she] still holds a grudge that the only cake was his congratulatory cake! Just kidding!"

In 2002, he began Sheriff Lou's stick horse posse and a Halloween pumpkin patch to provide every school-aged child with a pumpkin. At Christmas, to those same children he gave large peppermint sticks. These items were provided through his own pocket. He's also a familiar face at the Hot Springs County Senior Center, delivers meals with People for People and works to take care of his employees.

"I know I can only speak of the things I remember and the more personal memories," Christine wrote. "I remember a police car in our driveway my entire life. I remember many hot meals he got called away from. I remember learning a colorful vocabulary listening to him chew out a sergeant that screwed up, and being saved from a butt whooping by my mom when I used said vocabulary when being told to go to my room. I remember running 'code' to the emergency room in a patrol car having an awful asthma attack. I remember being told to 'go, stand along the guardrail and don't move until I come get you' while he assisted an officer making a felony arrest.

"I remember pulling up in front of the ER at the hospital in labor with my oldest son with my dad in uniform being asked if he was bringing a drunk in. I remember being told of my pregnant mom helping him after pulling into a convenience store armed robbery in progress.

"I remember very long hours worked to provide a comfortable life for our family. I also remember the not so great memories of lives lost and hearts broken, like the deceased toddler that he placed in his patrol car after a horrific car wreck so that his family wouldn't have to see.

"I know I should have researched all of the statistics that have made him a stellar law enforcement officer over the years; how many semi loads of drugs he assisted ridding the world of, how many bad guys he's taken off the streets, how many tickets he's written or arrests he's made, but I believe it's the small moments above that have made he most substantial impact in his career.

"When Lou enters a well-deserved retirement in January 2019 he will be about a month shy of 48 years in law enforcement; the second longest serving sheriff in Hot Springs County history. I don't know many people who have stuck with a job that long. I'd say that's pretty impressive."