On January 26, 2016, Stephen C. Arnold, a detective with the Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office and a Drug Enforcement Administration task force officer, was executing a federal search warrant at a residence in New Orleans with investigators from DEA’s New Orleans Field Division. During the search, Task Force Officer Arnold was shot multiple times and rushed to a hospital. After more than five years of critical medical care, Task Force Officer Arnold succumbed to his injuries on May 23, 2021, remaining always a hero dedicated to his colleagues, friends, and family.

Task Force Officer Arnold was a 12-year veteran of the Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office. Before his assignment with the New Orleans Field Division, Task Force Officer Arnold served as a narcotics detective and patrol deputy. He also worked as a police officer with the New Orleans Police Department.

Task Force Officer Arnold was awarded the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Medal of Honor, two Distinguished Service Awards, the Award for Valor, and the DEA Purple Heart Award. He was survived by his parents, George and Delores, and his two sisters, Hope and Bethany.