The Police News
November 30, 2009
By Breck Porter & Marcie Ellis
ANGLETON, Texas - Nearly 500 mourners braved rain and cold Monday to honor a friend, native son and lawman extraordinaire, Rickey Opperud.
Born Richard Fred Opperud, II, on April 12, 1962, Rick was one of the best at what he did. He loved animals and dogs, police dogs, were among his best friends. His love for the animals was returned a thousand fold by the many friends in and out of law enforcement that traveled to Angleton, Texas from throughout Texas and Lousiana to bid a final farewell to a man gone too young.
Rick was in Louisiana, training police canines and their handlers when he suffered a brain aneurysm and slipped into a coma from which he never recovered.
A resident of Angleton and a highly respected lawman, he served the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office for 17 years earning numerous awards for his dedication to law enforcment and his excellent canine training skills. He was selected as the Outstanding Peace Officer of the Year in 2004 by the Brazoria County Peace Officers Association. He received the Meritorious Achievement Awards in 2006 and 2009 from the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association. Additionally he was honored by Narcotics Dog Detector Associations in Lake Jackson, Nacogdoches and Corpus Christi.
Rick's life long dream as a youth was to become a law enforcement officer, in particularly a K-9 officer. His hard work and committment lead to the fulfillment of the dream he was still living when it was abruptly ended at the young age of 47.
Brazoria County Sheriff Charles Wagner expressed the tremendous love and respect for Rick Opperud by the members and employee's of the Sheriff's Office and vowed the Canine Training School which Rick founded would continue.
Rick was survived by his children, Joshua Opperud and wife Pam of Angleton, Amber Kay Opperud of Freeport; grandmother Mrs. Jessie Branstetter of Angleton; sister, Robbyn Opperd Smith and husband Larry, of Angleton, nieces, Meghan Smith of Cy-Fair, Texas; Gabrielle Vesely and husband Jodie of Longview, Texas; Emily smith of Angleton, Shelbi Smith of Angleton; nephews, Jesse Opperud, and Jordon Opperud of Lake Jackson; and great-aunt Betty Whitaker of Angleton.
He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents Fred and Helen Bieri; grandparents E.C. Bransterrer and Elouise Bieri Opperud; parents Richard and Connie Opperud; and niece Ariel Smith.
A celebration of Rick's life was held in the auditorium of the Brazoria County Fair Grounds at 10 o'clock Monday morning, November 30, 2009. Interment followed at the Angleton Cemetery.
PHOTO GALLERY
Law enforcement officers from the following agencies paid their final respects during the service. Killeen Police Dept., Clute Police Dept., LaPorte Police Dept., Dickinson Police Dept., Santa Fe Police Dept., Angleton Police Dept., Baytown Police Dept., Oyster Creek Police Dept., Alvin ISD Police Dept., Pearland Police Dept., Texas Department of Public Safety, Highway Patrol & Texas Rangers, Victoria Police Dept., West Columbia Police Dept. Freeport Police Dept., La Marque Police Dept., Harker Heights Police Dept., Matagorda County Sheriff's Office, Williamson County Sheriff's Office, Assumption Parrish, Louisiana Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Corrections, Galveston County Sheriff's Office, Harris County Constable's Office, Houston Police Dept., Metro Police Dept. of Houston, Brazoria County Constable's Office, Danbury Police Dept., Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Manvel Police Dept., De Soto County, Florida Sheriff's Office. St. Johns Parrish, Louisiana Sheriff's Office, Liverpool Police Dept., Bay City Police Dept.
Eulogy by Brazoria County Sheriff Charles Wagner
Eulogy by "Gabby" friend and fellow K-9 officer
Brazoria County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard presented American flags to Opperud's children, and the Brazoria County Cavalry, presented two Texas' flags to the family.
