Lt. Joel A. Bolton

Lt. Joel A. Bolton entered into God's Heavenly Eternal Kingdom, in the presence of his wife and four year old daughter, unexpectedly and peacefully on Sunday morning at 6:00 am, March 18, 2012 at their home in the Washington DC Metro area. Lt. Bolton was born on August 24, 1954 in DeRidder, Louisiana to Ruth and Thomas W. Bolton. Joel is survived by his devoted wife, Sandy L. Croel Bolton, his adoring Daddy's little girl, Jolie Aimee Bolton, his loving brother and wife, Tom and Brenda Bolton, his caring father in law, Robert "Bobby" Starks, brother in law CH(CPT) US Army Randy and Missy Croel, proud Aunts, Nelwyn Barbier and Barbara Bolton, Close Cousins, Aubrey Futrell, Dan and Meade Draughn, little sister, PFC USMC Tessa Oliver, son and daughter in law, William and Leigh Bolton, granddaughters, Brooklin, Kaylee, Emily, and Kieren, daughter and son in law, April and Kevin Suggs, grandchildren, Haley and Dakota Sorrell and Bradley Suggs, daughter and son in law, Courtnei Bolton and Jesse Wichmann, grandson, Braxton Wichmann, son, JT Bolton, faithful friend, Pastor Dr. Jim and Debbie Baucom, Robert "Bob" Wall, Lt. David Benada, Julio Galan, chosen family Garret and Kathy Morford, Bill and Carol O'leary, Marlene Creasey, his "Ebenezer" Band members, Donnie Barber, Lt. Gordon Fontenot, Terry Ewing and Kathy Nelson, many extended family, law enforcement family across the south, friends and coworkers. Lt. Bolton was proceeded in death by his parents, Ruth and Thomas Bolton, niece, Ginger Lea Bolton, Uncles, Norman Barbier, Buddy Bolton, and James Starks, Aunts Sister Aimee Starks and Margaret Starks Reinhardt, Cousins Diane Barbier, Stephanie Futrell, Lesa Futrell, Chris Futrell, and Steve Reinhardt. Joel Bolton worked for the Lake Charles, Louisiana Police Department 25 years until his retirement in January 2007 as the Chief's Administrative Officer. Joel was hired as a Police Officer and served in the Uniformed Patrol Division. He was promoted up through the ranks to Police Officer First Class, Police Corporal, and Police Sergeant and finally retired as a Police Lieutenant. In addition to Patrol, Joel served in the Detective Division and worked in several traffic safety programs, particularly the Safe City Project. Joel served his community as the coordinator for the Calcasieu Children and Youth Planning Board and numerous other local boards, organizations and commissions including Success by Six, Leadership Southwest Louisiana, PPG Community Advisory Panel, Family and Youth Counseling Agency, Truancy Advisory Board and The Child Death Review Team.

Joel also worked nationally writing and teaching many police training programs on passenger safety issues, police training, as well as a monthly article on traffic safety issues spanning many years for Police Chief Magazine. After retiring from the Lake Charles Police Department, Joel worked with GSRCPI writing the Critical Employee Emergency Planning training to aid critical employees and their families during disasters. Joel worked with countless states and the International Association of Police Chiefs on many occupant safety programs, police training and Operation Buckle Down across the United States. Joel's passion for passenger safety and car seats was born out of the death of his 8 month old niece, Ginger, in a car accident when he was 12 years old. He honored Ginger's life with his life's work to save as many children and people from untimely avoidable deaths. Joel was honored in 2006 with the J. Stannard Baker International Award for Lifetime Achievement in Highway Safety by the International Association Chiefs of Police. Joel was one of the leading experts to serve as a project consultant, developing and teaching Traffic Occupant Protection Strategies, developing and teaching Operation Kids and the National Standardized Child Passenger Safety Course, and helping to push the various national occupant protection campaigns that NHTSA was involved in Avoid the Summertime Blues, 70 x 90 Campaign, Buckle Up America Campaign, Click It or Ticket, etc. Joel's easy-going, yet thorough and professional >

Although he had a driving lifelong passion for law enforcement, what Joel will be most remembered for and missed, was his true passion in his personal relationship with God, which lead him to walk daily as a Godly man for his devoted wife, Sandy, Daddy's little girl, Jolie Aimee, extended family, his law enforcement family, friends and coworkers. Joel was very active with his family as members of First Baptist Church Lake Charles, where he and his wife taught elementary children in Sunday school, were involved with youth activities and many other events involving family life. He continued his deep church commitment and involvement with his family at Columbia Baptist Church. There Joel was active with men's Bible studies, teaching Sunday school, hosting the college students weekly at his family home with dinner and Bible study. Joel demonstrated his spiritual commitment as a husband and father to raise Jolie in a Christian home and lead her to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In August of 2010 Joel, Sandy and Jolie entered into a written family covenant with Columbia Baptist Church based on I Corinthians 12:13 on Faith, Hope and Love and the Greatest of these is Love, by being daily examples of love to others.

A private, law enforcement ceremony will be held Saturday morning at the Lake Charles City Police Department. Chief Don Dixon will place Lt. Bolton's International Award on the Wall of Honor at the Department.

A tribute to Lt. Bolton will be given under the direction of Chief Don Dixon and the Lake Charles Police Department Monday, May 14, 2012 at 10:00 am at the Civic Center during the Dress Inspection of the police department in honor of National Police Week 2012.

A Celebration of Life for Lt. Joel Bolton will be held at First Baptist Church Lake Charles under the direction of Pastor Dr. John White, on the first day of National Police Week 2012, Saturday, May 12, 2012 with the family receiving friends at 1:00 pm with the service at 2:00 pm followed by a reception in fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to Jolie Bolton Education Fund, P.O. Box 7312, Falls Church, VA 22040.