The Corporal Clovis Wayne “J.R.” Searcy Jr. Memorial Highway
: The Life and Leagacy of Corporal Clovis Wayne “J.R.” Searcy Jr.

On March 6, 2010, Corporal Clovis Wayne “J.R.” Searcy Jr. lost a two day fight for his life to a gunshot wound he sustained responding to an assault in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. An Air Force veteran of four years and an eight-year member of the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, Searcy died at a mere thirty-three years old, after dedicating over a third of his life to service. Born in West Monroe, Louisiana, Searcy’s life was full of family and fun. He spent his time “participating in his children’s sporting events, four-wheel racing, [and] mud digging.” A graduate of West Ouachita High School in 1994, Searcy left home to join the United States Air Force. While serving in the Air Force as a military police officer, Searcy “met the love of his life, Kerry, his wife of 9 years,” with whom he shared “2 children Justin and Maegan Searcy, as well as his step-son Nicholas Lambert.” When he wasn’t enjoying time with family, Searcy was a dedicated Sheriff’s Deputy serving his community. Searcy’s career with the Sheriff’s Office included “several years as a K-9 officer which was his true passion,”where he was also remembered as “always willing to help anyone in need.” In addition to his job as a Sheriff’s Deputy, Searcy was also a business owner, operating a lawn care service called C&K Searcy Enterprises. Searcy also dedicated time to directing traffic during the arrivals and dismissals of students at Woodlawn Elementary School, ensuring that all students remained safe.

On the fateful day of March 4, 2010, Searcy was joined by another deputy in responding to an aggravated assault call in West Monroe. The suspect had been reported as trying to run over people with his vehicle and was standing outside of his vehicle when the two deputies arrived on scene. Searcy, with his taser in hand, ordered the suspect to put his hands up and surrender. However, Searcy did not know that the suspect had a handgun hidden behind him in the small of his back. Acting as though he was going to surrender, the suspect suddenly reached for the concealed weapon and opened fire. Corporal Searcy was struck twice “just an inch above his protective vest,” as “the second deputy returned fire, killing the suspect.” Searcy was rushed to the hospital, where he fought for two days before finally succumbing to his wounds on March 6, 2010.

After his life was tragically cut short, family and friends began the process of memorializing their fallen loved one. A local branch of the Ouachita Parish Public Library was named in Searcy’s honor at the behest of his friends, “with a statue of him and his K-9 partner, Rico, near the entrance.” Then, in 2011, Searcy was honored with the naming of the Corporal J.R. Searcy Memorial Highway. Running through his home parish, the highway bearing Searcy’s name is a fitting tribute to his life and legacy. In addition to the library and road named in his honor, the Corporal J.R. Searcy Memorial Scholarship at the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) is awarded in his memory to students in the criminal justice program. The scholarship was created by Searcy’s longtime friend Dennis Wall, a fellow law enforcement officer and promoter of the “XTREME Battle of the Badges” fundraiser. Wall presented ULM with a check for $43, 478.19, with donations doubling in size the following year, cementing the scholarship as a tribute to Searcy “that will last well into the future and ensure a student is trained, in his memory, to protect our community.” Searcy’s life and legacy are a testament to his dedication to serving his community and as a loving family man. The Corporal J.R. Searcy Memorial Highway is only a small token of appreciation for the life tragically lost to a senseless act of violence.

“Corporal Clovis Wayne Searcy, Jr. .” The News-Star (Monroe, Louisiana), March 10,

2010. https://www.newspapers.com/image/226438302/?match=1&clipping_id=new.

“In Memory of Corporal J.R. Searcy.” Facebook. Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, March 6,

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Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana.” Accessed March 31, 2026.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/20340-corporal-clovis-wayne-jr-searcy-jr.

“ULM News.” Accessed March 31, 2026.

https://www.ulm.edu/news/archives/2011/mar11/searcy.html.