FERRIDAY — One of Ferriday’s finest was honored Friday before he ships off to war in Iraq.

Officer Craig Southern will be deployed July 19, and not for the first time. This deployment through the Louisiana National Guard is Southern’s fourth stretch of active duty in his military career, and is the second one to be spent overseas.

His last deployment — two years ago — was to Afghanistan, he said.

Southern has been an officer with the Ferriday Police Department since he had an unsuccessful bid for Police Chief in Wisner, Ferriday Police Chief Richard Madison said.

“When I interviewed him, I was really impressed,” Madison said. “He had extensive law enforcement experience and he was a military man.”

Southern had done an outstanding job since coming to Ferriday, Madison said.

He helped in neighborhoods where the police had been having trouble and worked weekends, Madison said.

“Southern taught us a lot,” he said. “He has a keen eye for people with no respect for the law.”

The police department has never received any complaints about Southern, Madison said.

Mayor Gene Allen agreed Southern did an outstanding job.

“It’s good when we’ll have people fight for our country,” he said.

Madison said the police department looks forward to when Southern gets back from his tour.

“We will await his return until he comes back to do what he loves best,” he said.

Law enforcement is a thankless job, and often, military service is as well, Madison said.

“We need to give people credit when they can still receive it,” he said.

Sheriff Randy Maxwell also spoke at the ceremony.

“Nothing is more important than supporting our troops, whether you agree with the war or not,” he said. “If you want to change things, change the politicians, but don’t blame the troops — they need our support.”

Soother’s wife Rena said he was already in the military when they got married.

“I’ll get through this (deployment) the same as I did the last one,” she said. “I’ll depend on God’s strength.”

When Southern was deployed to Afghanistan, the family — which includes three children, Tracy, Daulton and Mary Joe — stayed in constant contact through phone and e-mail, Rena said.

“I have my family and church family for support,” she said.

Madison said the police department will look after Southern’s family while he is gone, and designated Assistant Chief Margaret Lawrence to contact Rena Southern once a week so the department can support them.