Last of slain Baton Rouge officers to be buried Monday

Jackson wrote those words days before he was shot to death, in a Facebook post that described the difficulties of being both a black man and a police officer.

Mourners described Jackson as a loyal friend, an officer who loved his city and a proud father of his 4-month-old son Mason. “Montrell loved this city and he loved being part of the Baton Rouge Police Department. He was an officer of the law who served with dignity and distinction [and] his end of watch came too soon”, he continued.

He urged people not to let “hate infect your heart”, and he ended with: “If you see me and need a hug or want to say a prayer”.

“Matt was such a special person to so many people.he touched the lives of more people than any of us will ever know”, Officer Gerald’s Brother-In-Law Justin Badeaux said during the funeral.

Gov. John Bel Edwards called Jackson a pillar of the community.

“I love you man”, said Jackson’s brother Kendrick Pitts.

Alex Montgomery III of the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, attended the funeral as president of the Magnolia State Peace Officers Association. But he added: “We know the effect we have for the family when we have officers together in great numbers”. Ivory Taylor as he told Jackson’s wife Trenisha: “In the weeks to come when the cameras stop flashing, we got you”.

They filed quietly Monday morning to the black coffin holding the body of Montrell Jackson. “In a situation like that, you’ve got to have sympathy”, Kelley said. “It’s a human race thing”.

Jackson was gunned down July 17 alongside Gerald and Garafola about a half-mile from Baton Rouge police headquarters on Airline Highway by a shooter identified as Gavin Long of Kansas City, Missouri.

Almost half of the police departments in the 30 biggest US cities issued directives after the Dallas attack requiring patrol officers to pair up while on duty.

Authorities say Long stalked Baton Rouge police before ambushing a handful of them.

A memorial service will be held at Healing Place Church on Highland Road beginning at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 28.