Wife of slain Baton Rouge officer Matthew Gerald mourns her 'blue-eyed rock'

Advocate staff report
Jul 19, 2016 - 4:27 pm
Jul 19, 2016 - 4:27 pm
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1 min to read

BROfficerFolo.071916 75.jpg — Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- Dechia Gerald, wife of slain Baton Rouge Police officer Matthew Gerald, holds their two daughters and a police teddy bear, during vigil outside Baton Rouge's Healing Place Church, where friends and family of the officers killed in Sunday's ambush gathered Tuesday, July 18, 2016 to mourn the men lost, and remember those wounded. The slain Baton Rouge Police officers are Montrell Jackson and Matthew Gerald, and EBR sheriff's deputy Brad Garafola. ORG XMIT: BAT1607182049203338
Travis Spradling

Dechia Gerald, wife of slain Baton Rouge police officer Matthew Gerald, on Tuesday posted an open letter to her husband on Facebook, calling him her "blue-eyed rock."

In the Facebook post, she says her heart is heavy, yet she is overjoyed with the outpouring of love, prayers and support from the community.

Dechia Gerald attended a candlelight vigil Monday evening at the Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge with her children and other family and friends.

Hundreds gather outside slain Baton Rouge policeman's church for candlelit prayers: 'We've got your six'

Hundreds gather outside slain BR policeman's church for candlelit prayers: 'We've got your six'

As day turned to dusk Monday outside Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, hundreds gathered …

Matthew Gerald, 41, was a rookie officer who served as a crew chief on a helicopter crew during multiple U.S. Army tours in Iraq. He was shot and killed around 8:30 a.m. at a convenience store on Airline Highway on Sunday in Baton Rouge.