BATON ROUGE, La. – A corrections officer who lost her life in a car accident on the grounds of Louisiana State Penitentiary (LSP) was honored with a memorial ceremony and dedication of a custom-built Honor Chair on Monday, June 22, 2026.
Saving a Hero's Place, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring fallen officers, donated a handcrafted wooden Honor Chair to LSP in memory of Master Sergeant Tyler Marie Grezaffi, 28, who passed away on March 18. The organization creates Honor Chairs to permanently recognize fallen public safety professionals and symbolize that their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Master Sergeant Grezaffi’s untimely passing deeply affected the LSP community, leaving a lasting void among her family, friends, and fellow employees. In the months following her death, LSP leadership and Department officials sought a meaningful way to permanently honor her memory.
“On behalf of the Louisiana State Penitentiary family, I extend my deepest gratitude to Saving a Hero’s Place for creating this beautiful chair in honor of Master Sergeant Grezaffi,” said Darrel Vannoy, Warden of Louisiana State Penitentiary. “This tribute serves as a lasting reminder that her courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to serving others will never be forgotten. We are humbled by this meaningful gift and thankful her legacy will continue to inspire all who see it.”
The Honor Chair was designed and handcrafted by law enforcement officers within the nonprofit. It is engraved with Master Sergeant Grezaffi’s name, End of Watch date, LSP patches and challenge coins, and the Bible verse Matthew 5:9. The chair will be displayed in the Investigative Services Building, where it will serve as a permanent tribute and provide colleagues and visitors with a place to pause, reflect, and remember.