The Police News

The Police News
November 30, 2009

Funeral Home Obituary

ANGLETON, TX - Funeral services for 47-year old Brazoria County Sheriff's Deputy Rick Opperud will be Monday at 10am at the Brazoria County Fair Grounds Auditorium at 901 Downing Road in Angleton.

Palms Funeral Home of Angleton is in charge of arrangements.

A funeral home spokesperson said Wednesday the fair ground auditorium was selected for the site of the services due to the large crowd expected to honor the veteran Brazoria County lawman.

Opperud died Tuesday morning of an aneurysm that burst while he was training drug dogs in Louisiana on Nov. 4. A cerebral aneurysm is a bulging, weak area in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the brain. Opperud was airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Houston, where he underwent surgery to repair the problem.

Brazoria County Sheriff Charles Wagner said he never recovered after suffering several stokes and was in a hospice care center for about two weeks after that.

Richard "Ricky" Opperud was a nationally known K-9 officer and police dog trainer, Sheriff Charles Wagner said and was a lawman for almost 20 years.

He was a native of Brazoria County having graduated from Danbury High School. He began his law enforcement career with his hometown, Danbury Police Department then joined the Freeport Police Department before finally becoming a Brazoira County Deputy Sheriff in 1992.

Opperud was a nationally known K-9 officer and police dog trainer. He and his K-9 partner were certified by the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association in cadaver recovery and explosive detection and in patrol tactics, narcotics detection and tracking.

Rick Opperud was a member of the Texas Narcotics Officers Association, Brazoria County Sheriff Deputies Association, National Narcotic Detector Dog Association and North American Police Work Dog Association.

Further information is available from the Palms Funeral Home, 979-849-4343

Comments:

Our thoughts & prayers are with Deputy Opperud's family during this time & the days to follow. If there is anything that we can do to be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will continue to lift you up in prayer.

LT. Perry Evans & Family
Galveston County S.O.

Posted by Susan Evans at 11/27/2009 5:46:24 PM

To the family of Rick,
My most sincere regards to the family. What a huge loss to us all! I'll never forget Rick. I was privileged to meet him about three years ago at my first K-9 Seminar in Lake Jackson when I had my first K-9. I had a lot of struggles with my first K-9 most of it because I was green myself, but we ran into other issues with my dog as well which resulted in retiring him (K-9"Bla'zen") this same year that Rick and Gabby retired theirs. Rick was always supportive of me and helped me keep my head up during my struggles and I will never forget that. The last time I spoke to Rick was at U.S. K-9 Unlimited in Louisiana. Rick was leaving with his brand new huge "Malinois" and I was just beginning my training with my new one. My prayers are with you all! Take care!

P.S. The services were very nice and Rick would be so proud of all that showed up! I will never forget it and I was glad to be part of it at the cemetary honoring him with my dog in hand while he was laid to rest! Thank You!

Officer Johnny Brown #205
Early Police Department
960 Early Boulevard
Early, Tx. 76803
(office) 325-646-5322
(cell) 325-647-6063
(fax) 325-646-3621

Posted by Johnny Brown at 12/7/2009 6:58:00 PM

Rick Opperud pictured teaching a police K-9 handlers class