Fallen Officer Jesse A. Branch of the Red Lake Police Department will be honored in Washington, DC this year, during NATIONAL POLICE WEEK. He served over 17 years, working for the Red Lake Criminal Justice Complex.

Boozhoo, my name is Lanelle Thompson. I am the fiancée of Jesse Branch, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for my family and me. If you got the chance to know Jesse, you knew how much he loved his family. He was finally happy. The universe had other plans, though. In the early hours of November 27, 2024, Officer Branch's life was taken due to a car accident.

His death affected everyone across the United States. He loved to travel and go to conferences all over the United States to learn to help keep our roads safe for the people of the Red Lake Nation. His latest adventure was going to be Crash Reconstruction.

Not many people know, "The Story" of what happened after the funeral. I'm not here to explain that. I'm here to ask for help to get my family and me to Washington, DC to help HONOR HIM. As many know, I was not the beneficiary, which puts a toll on a lot of help I could try to receive to get us out there.

So far, I have gone to Artesia, NM, and Charleston, SC to honor him. I have raised money and asked for help before, but this time I need more HELP. National Police Week is 6 days long. Between flights and the hotel, those are more than I could personally afford. This trip is all out of pocket.

As few know, I am now a fellow first responder for the Red Lake Nation. The day of Jesse's death, he was supposed to pick up his ready gear for the North Country First Responders. Something he was truly passionate about, helping people in any way he could.

Jesse knew I always wanted my EMS license. Today I am serving the Red Lake Nation as an Emergency Medical Technician, going for my Paramedic License. I hope to one day continue to use my paramedic license on the reservation, as everyone always reminds me how proud he would be seeing me do the work he once did. He was everyone's go-to guy on the scene.

National Police Week is expensive. Again, this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for my family and me. Jesse's death took a huge toll on me and my mental health, so I'm thankful our children constantly talk about him and remember all the trips we went on with him, no matter how big or small. My family and our friends have been my biggest support system during this continuously trying time. Together, we are all healing, so again, I am asking for help for us to continue our healing journey together.

Thank you for the support. It does not go unnoticed and is very appreciated. While I lost the life I once had with him, I continue to honor him in every way possible. Please help us make this National Police Week trip possible.