Mélanie Lemée, the 25-year-old gendarme killed by a driver during a road check on Saturday in Lot-et-Garonne, was awarded the Legion of Honor Thursday in Mérignac (Gironde), in the presence of the Minister of Interior Gérald Darmanin who praised his "flawless commitment".
Military honors were returned to the young woman at the barracks of the headquarters of the gendarmerie region of New Aquitaine, in Mérignac, where her coffin, covered with the tricolor flag, had been placed in the center of a square of arms frozen by emotion.
National Gendarmerie military medal
The minister, who presided over the ceremony, decorated her knight of the Legion of Honor posthumously after having raised her to the rank of major, in the presence of her relatives.
#Hommage 🇨🇵
Military honors are paid today at #Bordeaux to Major #MelanieLemee in the presence of the Minister of the Interior @GDarmanin. She died on July 4 in the exercise of her functions. pic.twitter.com/h9H5cYkEm6
The young woman whom he praised "the flawless professional commitment" but also her career in judo, then received the military medal of the National Gendarmerie, palm bronze and the gold medal of internal security.
She "embodied the noblest values"
"25 years": the minister insisted in his funeral eulogy on the youth of the gendarme, a reservist at 19, a "fighter" who "embodied the noblest values, those of the Republic, of justice (…) the protection of the weakest ”.
Today we are returning to Mérignac the military honors to Gendarme Mélanie Lemée, who died on Saturday July 4 in the performance of her duties.
The Republic bowed before his courage and paid tribute to him. pic.twitter.com/YEtdy1ZMwn
After detailing the names of gendarmes who died in service, the Minister also wanted to show his support for his troops, gendarmes and all the police: “the Republic wants to tell you that your engagement is not in vain (… ) on the contrary, you are the honor of the republic ”.
The driver was traveling at over 130 km / h
Just appointed, the minister had reserved his first trip to the provinces on Tuesday for the gendarmes of Port-Sainte-Marie (Lot-et-Garonne), near the Aiguillon brigade where the gendarme had been assigned since 2016.
#Hommage 🇫🇷 #MelanieLemee was a young #gendarme of 26 years old, committed to serving the population.
She died on Saturday July 4 in the exercise of her duties.
Military honors are returned to him today in # Bordeaux. #Protecting you # OurCommitmentYourSecurity pic.twitter.com/mxSraSbG7v
It was cut down at a traffic stop by a 26-year-old driver who refused to stop while he was driving, without a license, at more than 130 km / h and was transporting "presumably cocaine" according to the prosecutor's office. Agen.
Charged for intentional homicide
The suspect, in the criminal record responsible for cases of narcotic drugs and traffic offenses, was charged with "intentional homicide on a person depositing public authority" and provisionally imprisoned.
Originally from Orne, in Normandy, accomplished sportswoman, the young woman had notably represented France at the World Military Judo Championships in 2016 in Switzerland and had just passed the exam of judicial police officer.
Society
Lot-et-Garonne: The motorist who cut down a young gendarme was traveling "between 130 and 160 km / h at the time of the impact"
Bordeaux
Lot-et-Garonne: He rushes to the police and kills a 25-year-old gendarme
- Aquitaine
- Bordeaux
- Gendarmerie
- Agen
- Violence
- Chauffard
- Society