According to police, LaValley responded to the 3500 block of Del Rio Street around 9:15 p.m. Wednesday on a call of a suspicious person making threats.
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Mourning a fallen police officer has happened too many times, Shaw said, reminding those with badges why they do what they do: to help people.
LaValley, a four-year veteran of the police department and the top graduate of his police academy class, was shot when he went into a house where a neighbor said a fugitive was threatening residents.
Cannon also has a September 1 court appearance on an attempted second-degree murder charge stemming from an alleged shooting last month. At one point there were at least 7 police officers searching around Love, Joy & Peace Daycare.
Habich, who was a news photographer for the station when LaValley was hired, said he thought working the night crime beat, “running with first responders every night”, made LaValley decide he wanted to become a police officer.
“We will scour the earth and wherever he goes we will find him”, Shreveport Police Chief Willie Shaw told reporters Thursday during a solemn news conference.
The Shreveport Police Officer’s Association released this statement: “The loss of such a fine man in our community is extremely painful”.
Late Wednesday, the Caddo Parish Constable’s Office posted condolences on Facebook. “He died protecting us”.
“He paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the citizens of the city”, said Tyler, who read a proclamation giving tribute to LaValley. Our hearts are saddened.
Dispatch to Officer Thomas Joseph LaValley, Badge 1284.
“Officer Thomas Joseph LaValley”, she repeated three times. “And I’m sorry that my son had to get caught up in all this too”.
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Visitation for Officer LaValley will be held at Ourso Funeral Home on Airline Hwy in Gonzales. The family will receive friends from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with a procession leading to Holy Rosary Catholic Church in LaValley’s hometown of St. Amant for the service at 11 a.m. Interment will be in the church cemetery.
