Thursday funeral procession for fallen Lafayette police officer expected to tie up traffic (2024)

Public services for fallen Lafayette police Sr. Cpl. Segus Jolivette, 35, will take place beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Private services will take place Wednesday evening for Jolivette's family and members of the Lafayette Police Department and Opelousas Police Department, where he started his law enforcement career.

Other law enforcement agencies who want to show their respect and support are asked to attend the public services on Thursday, according to a statement by Lafayette police.

The public visitation begins at 10 a.m. Thursday at Our Savior's Church, 202 Our Savior Church Blvd., Opelousas. The funeral service begins at 1 p.m. Thursday at the church.

A large procession of vehicles from Opelousas to Lafayette is expected to follow the funeral service, concluding the public services for Jolivette.

Gravesite services will be private, limited to immediate family and close friends.

Motorists can expect heavy traffic from 3-4 p.m. Thursday during the procession through Lafayette. Motorists not in the procession should seek alternate routes because several city streets and highways will be closed during the event.

The procession will enter Lafayette on Interstate 49, turn onto East Pont des Mouton Road and proceed southbound on Moss Street, westbound on West Willow Street, southbound on University Avenue to West Pinhook Road, concluding past Kaliste Saloom Road.

Intersections along the route will be closed as the procession passes and re-opened shortly after. Motorists are advised to take secondary routes if they plan to travel in these areas between 3-4 p.m. Thursday.

Jolivette was killed July 25 in Jeanerette. An 11-year member of the Lafayette police force, he was working as a SWAT team hostage negotiator at the time.

The Lafayette SWAT team and other law enforcement agencies were called out July 25 to assist the Jeanerette Marshal's Office. Deputies with the Marshal's Office attempted to serve warrants at a house when the occupant held two people in the house hostage and entered a standoff with police.

Around 4:30 p.m., the suspect and law enforcement exchanged gun fire. Jolivette was shot and killed. Another Lafayette police officer was shot and two others suffered minor injuries from bullet fragments.

Nyjal Hurst, 31, of Jeanerette is the suspected shooter. He has a long criminal record in Iberia, St. Mary, Lafayette and Livingston parishes.