Lee Edward Peyton

Lee Edward Peyton, 62, passed away on Friday, October 14, 2016. He was a native of New Orleans, born January 20, 1954. While serving his country in the United States Army Reserve, Air Calvary Unit, Lee decided to dedicate himself to a career in law enforcement and joined the New Orleans Police Department. During his tenure with the NOPD, he served in various leadership positions: Assistant Commander in the Child Abuse Unit; Assistant Commander of the First Platoon, 3rd District; Commander of the 2nd District MCI Unit; 1st and 6th MCI Units; Special Operations Division, Member of the SWAT Hostage Recovery, Dive Rescue, and VIP/Presidential Protection Teams; Detective Bureau, Burglary, Homicide, Sex Crimes Unit; and Uniformed Patrol, 5th and 6th Districts. After almost three decades with the police department and many commendations, Mr. Peyton retired, but his dedication to law enforcement and his desire to continue serving and protecting did not end. He worked as an investigator for International Securities and Investigations, Inc., and for Dillard University as a Lieutenant in the Department of Public Safety where he performed internal, criminal, and civil Investigations. At the time of his passing, Mr. Peyton was employed by the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Department in Civil District Court for the Honorable Dale Atkins. During Mr. Peyton's career, he was always seeking to advance his knowledge and expertise of his craft and received the following specialized training: Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI); LSU Interview and Interrogation Seminar; The Franz Bolz FBI Hostage Negotiation and Recovery Seminar; FBI Advanced Weapons and SWAT ongoing training; FBI White Collar Crimes Seminar; NOPD Supervisor Training Seminar; Reid Institute of Investigation and Interrogation Seminar; and United States Marine Corps Leadership 30 Day Training Program. Lee had the highest regard for his profession and his "brothers" who wore the blue uniform. He was respected by his peers and developed deep, life-long friendships with them. Mr. Peyton was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, an integral member of the 1975, 1976, and 1977 champion semi-pro Blue Knights football team, and active in the Tommy Philips Open, an annual golf tournament benefitting the families of officers injured or killed in the line of duty. Lee was known for his tremendous wit, his ability to quickly assess people and situations, his loyalty to family and friends, his charm, his kind heart, his gentle soul. Lee was a true gentleman. He was also an avid reader who devoured books on history, action thrillers, and real-life police dramas. As successful as Lee was in his professional endeavors, he considered his daughters his greatest accomplishment. They were his pride and joy, and he relished the opportunity to brag on their love and care of him, their brains, their beauty, and their many accomplishments. Lee is preceded in death by his father, Lee Braughn Peyton. He is survived by his mother, Catherine Peyton McKay, his two daughters, Leslie P. Kovesdi and her husband, John, and Emily C. Peyton and her fiancé, Justin Abadie, and his two brothers, Pat M. Peyton, and Tim P. Peyton and his wife, Karla. Mr. Peyton's family would like to extend sincere thanks and much love to extended family, friends and especially his "brothers" in blue who stood by him throughout the trials and tribulations of his health issues. Lee was truly loved by many. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 19, 2016, 11:00a.m, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00p.m. at Greenwood Funeral Home in New Orleans. Interment will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.