Community, family says goodbye to slain Lafayette officer: 'Thank you for sharing Segus with us' (2024)

The community, including loved ones, fellow officers and dignitaries packed Our Savior's Church in Opelousas on Thursday to say goodbye toLafayette Police Senior Cpl. Segus Jolivette.

Jolivette, a SWAT team member and 11-year member of the Lafayette police force, was shot and killed July 25 while assisting the Jeanerette city marshal serve warrants at a home in Jeanerette.

Officers in Lafayette parish, Opelousas, Jeanerette, and from as far away as New York and Chicago were in attendancen Thursday. Lafayette Mayor PresidentMonique Blanco Boulet, and Gov. Jeff Landry also attended to pay their respects.

"The people of our great state, and especially the people of Acadiana, we are deeply saddened by your loss, and we offer support, love and comfort as you navigate this loss," Landry said.

"I am convinced that God calls those like Segus home when he is in need of angels to add to St. Michaels Army."

The governor then went on to thank the family for their great sacrifice, and assured them Jolivette's memory will always be cherished.

Jolivette's fellow officers described him as a brother who always had your back and always had a big smile.

"We lost an extraordinary police officer, and a even better man. He will always hold a special place in our heart," saidPaul Trouard, Interim Chief of Lafayette Police Department.

He noted that the Jolivette family, including the fallen officer's wife, Alexis and five children, had grown significantly because of the his sacrifice.

"To the Jolivette family, I know that pain will never go away but I can promise my wavering support and presence, and I ," he said. "You will always be part of the LPD family."

Many described Jolivette as a family man, with a contagious smile.

"I miss my dad so much, everyday, and he is going to miss Christmas, and I just love him so much," his youngest daughter, 5-year-old Austin Jolivette said through tears.

"I'm never going to forget his laugh, I'm never going to forger the big kid that he was. He had such a bubbly personality," said his oldest daughterAjah Jolivette.

"God gave me a wonderful father," she said. "It means so, so much to me to see how much my father was loved by everyone...

"My daddy had me whenever he was about 16 or 17. I know he had to be scared ... But my father stepped up and he took care of me and he never stopped taking care of me," Ajah said.

"He and my mother taught me what true love is," she said. "They have loved each other since they were 13 years old...They showed me what a relationship is supposed to look like...I hope that I can find a man half as good as my father."

In the wake of his death, Ajah said, her father would have been proud of the outpouring of love from the community and support for the Jolivette family.

"If my dad saw all of you here right now, the smile on his face, honestly he would be so happy to see overyone come together. This just shows how you all also see how good of a man he was in duty, and with his family."

Boulet also thanked the family for their service.

"This family is quite a family, their line of duty goes back many generations from nurses to officers, and I thank all of his family for all of their individual public services," she said.

A resident of Opelousas, Jolivette joined the Lafayette Police Department on Nov. 5, 2013. He was a member of the SWAT negotiator team and a former school resource officer.

He displayed an early passion for law enforcement, the Opelousas Police Department said last week upon learing of Jolivette's death, participating in several ride-alongs with the department while in the Junior Police Academy.

After graduating, Jolivette joined the Opelousas Police Department as a patrolman.

Jolivette started with the Lafayette Police Department as a patrol officer, served as a school resource officer at J.W. Faulk Elementary School, and was on the SWAT and negotiator teams.