SICILY ISLAND, La. – The Miss-Lou lost a dedicated public servant when it lost Sicily Island Police Chief Eddie Newman, those who knew him said Tuesday.

Newman, 49, died at Louisiana State University Hospital in Shreveport at 12:25 p.m. Tuesday, more than two months after he suffered a severe heart attack at his Sicily Island home.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete at Young’s Funeral Home of Ferriday as of Tuesday afternoon.

&uot;He was a dedicated person, a trustworthy person, and was very sincere about his work,&uot; said Odeal Montgomery, who was mayor of Ferriday from 1996 to 2000, when Newman was Ferriday’s police chief. &uot;He loved Ferriday and he loved people.&uot;

Newman also served on the Concordia Parish Police Jury from 1984 to 1990. And as former Police Jury President Fred Falkenheiner put it, Newman &uot;just had a people personality.&uot;

On the morning of his heart attack, Newman drove himself to Riverland Medical Center for treatment. He was transferred to Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, where his condition was stabilized.

He was then transferred earlier this month to St. Francis Cabrini Medical Center in Alexandria to undergo rehabilitation while awaiting a heart transplant.

The timing of Newman’s death was especially unfortunate, Falkenheiner said. &uot;It’s a crying shame,&uot;&160;he said. &uot;It seemed he just found his niche in life, … and he was in the prime of his life.&uot;

&uot;The law enforcement community has lost a dedicated officer, and I have personally lost a friend,&uot; said Sgt. Steve Jackson of the Louisiana State Police, who is a Sicily Island resident.