‘Went down fighting’: Slain deputy to be laid to rest

Flowers are left in front of the B-Quick convenience store on Airline Highway where an encounter with a shooter left three law enforcement officers dead on Sunday in Baton Rouge, La., Monday, July 18, 2016.

A funeral was held for Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Garafola Saturday afternoon in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at the Istrouma Baptist Church.

“It’s is a huge honor to be able to go to Baton Rouge and assist our brothers and sisters in law enforcement and pay respects to those officers who were killed”, said Sgt. Lauren Truscott, commander of the Honor Guard.

The 18-year law-enforcement veteran was gunned down inside his squad vehicle afer Long had already killed the three other cops. The third remained in critical condition.

Mayor Kip Holden said people must avoid an “us versus them” mentality and recognize that police officers are “here for all of us”.

Garafola’s friends described him as a man committed to public service and devoted to his family.

Gautreaux said Garafola was “courageous, compassionate, fearless, fair, brave and benevolent”.

The line of mourners snaked through hallways in the 1,500-seat sanctuary at Istrouma Baptist Church, out the back door and into the parking lot.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards and Louisiana Congressman Garret Graves both were in attendance and delivered eulogies to the fallen officer. They too were slain by Gavin Long, an Army veteran who urged violence in response to what he saw as the oppression of black people.

Early arrivals for Garafola’s service included a deputy who worked with Garafola in the department’s foreclosure division. He was dressed in Scottish regalia for a pipe band that played “Amazing Grace” outside the church after four helicopters flew over in salute.

A police officer who has been unconscious since being shot by the Baton Rouge shooter on Sunday squeezed the hand of a family member when she told him: “We need you”.

Police said the attack shattered days without significant violence in Baton Rouge, even as thousands protested amid heightened racial tension following the police shooting of Alton Sterling, a black man whose death was recorded and posted online.

“My deputy went down fighting”.

Hinds County Sheriff Victor Mason warns that targeting police has happened before and he said the question is when and where it will happen again.

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