Hero Down: Eunice Police Lt. Robert ‘Beef’ Brickley Succumbs To Health Complications

Eunice, LA – Eunice Police Department (EPD) Lieutenant Robert Daniel “Beef” Brickley died on Oct. 25 due to health complications.

The 44-year-old lieutenant was diagnosed with leukemia several months ago, KLFY reported.

The EPD announced Lt. Brickley’s death in a press release on Oct. 27.

“It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the passing of Lieutenant Robert Daniel ‘Beef’ Brickley,” the EPD said. “He was a big man with an even bigger heart.”

Lt. Brickley first joined the department in July of 1995.

Although he left the EPD to pursue other employment opportunities, he “always returned to his law enforcement roots,” having served 16 years with the department at the time of his death, the agency said.

Lt. Brickley was one of just five certified homicide investigators at the EPD.

He was serving as the Shift A supervisor at the time of his death, and was also a field training officer.

“Even though Lieutenant Brickley was a Patrol Supervisor, he was still assigned major cases to be investigated, attesting to his investigation abilities,” the department noted. “He also took great interest in Community Policing and was maintaining social contacts with the public.”

Lt. Brickley is the son of late EPD Lieutenant Richard Brickley, and was “well on the way of following his father’s footprints in becoming the Chief of Detectives of Eunice Police Department,” according to the press release.

“It is without any doubts that his father looks down from Heaven at his son, Robert, with great pride,” the EPD said.

The beloved lieutenant had an “enormous heart,” and once organized a parade of police and fire department vehicles to celebrate the birthday of an eight-year-old girl who was being adopted and had never experienced a birthday party, the EPD said.

“He was a single father and loved his family. Above all he was a family man who gave everything he could to make his family’s life better,” the agency said. “He called himself Daddy to at least seven kids. Not all of them are his biological children; some are step-children, nieces and nephews.”

Lt. Brickley leaves behind his four sons and three daughters, according to his obituary.

He is also survived by his mother and two sisters.

“The Eunice Police Department’s family would like to extends our condolences to Lieutenant Robert Brickley’s family at this difficult time of enormous loss,” the police department said. “Take comfort with the knowledge that ‘Beef’ will never be forgotten and that his strength, courage, honor, and dedication will live on and he will continue to be an inspiration for all of us.”

Lt. Brickley was laid to rest on Oct. 30, according to his obituary.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Eunice Police Department Lieutenant Robert Daniel “Beef” Brickley, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.

Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.