Alfred Louis Celestain, Sr.
Agency patch
Police Officer

Alfred Louis Celestain, Sr.

New Orleans Police Department — New Orleans, LA
Felonious
End of Watch January 11, 2010
Age 54
Tour of Duty 21 yrs
The Vigil Panel 158 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Alfred Celestain succumbed to injuries sustained two days earlier when his patrol car was struck by a drunk driver as he and his partner responded to a call.

The drunk driver ran a red light and collided with the patrol car at the intersection of St. Charles Avenue and St. Joseph Street.

Both officers were transported to a local hospital where Officer Celestain slipped into a coma. He passed away from his injuries two days later.

The drunk driver was charged with several traffic violations, DWI, and faces vehicular homicide charges. On April 10, 2011, he was convicted of vehicular homicide and sentenced to three years in prison.

Officer Celestain had served with the New Orleans Police Department for 21 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his parents and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-LA-7E1DFC88
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

21 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Celestain gave the New Orleans Police Department 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the New Orleans community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Celestain.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location New Orleans, LA
Platform Identity nopd.orleans.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 11, 2010
Tour of Duty 21 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Vehicular assault
Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved
Offender Sentenced to 3 years

Police Officer Alfred Louis Celestain, Sr. is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At New Orleans Police Department, 86 of 128 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 67.2% of this agency's fallen.

New Orleans Police Department
86
of 128 officers
67.2% Felonious
LA — Statewide
364
of 595 officers
61.2% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Alfred Louis Celestain, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Alfred Louis Celestain, Sr. Compares

Age at End of Watch
54
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
21
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 3 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Alfred Louis Celestain, Sr. is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Alfred Louis Celestain, Sr. was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location