Garafola and at least two other Baton Rouge law enforcement officers investigating a report of a man with an assault rifle were killed Sunday, July 17, 2016, less than two weeks after a black man was fatally shot by police here in a confrontation that sparked nightly protests that reverberated nationwide.
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Visitation for Garafola begins at noon Saturday at the Istrouma Baptist Church at 10500 Sam Rushing Drive. Three other officers were wounded.
The family’s obituary for East Baton Rouge Parish Deputy Brad Garafola (Gehr-uh-FOH-luh) said a funeral Mass for family, friends and congregation members was held at 10 a.m.at St. Jean (ZHAHN) Vianney (VEE-uh-new) Catholic Church.
During the service, Garafola’s brother-in-law, Jaye Cooper, spoke on behalf of his family, offering humorous anecdotes and memories.
Gautreaux said he was “courageous, compassionate, fearless, fair, brave and benevolent”. “Brad lived by those standards daily, as he would give anyone anything he had, if they needed it, even if it meant going without it himself”, said Cooper.
Garafola left his protected position to try to help the injured officer.
The sanctuary at Istrouma Baptist Church was filled with officers from across the country and beyond who travelled to Baton Rouge to pay their respects.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards and Louisiana Congressman Garret Graves both were in attendance and delivered eulogies to the fallen officer. Bellevue police Officer Paul Dill said their chief feels it’s important to honor brother and sister officers. He says the department sends an honor guard contingent to every out-of-state death in the line of duty.
Early arrivals for Garafola’s service included a deputy who worked with him 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.
The funeral of Brad Garafola, one of three officers killed in the Baton Rouge police shooting, took place in the Louisiana city on Saturday. The next day a black man in Minnesota was shot and killed by police, and his girlfriend streamed the aftermath on Facebook.
The gunman, Gavin Long, was shot and killed by police.
Garafola’s boss, East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux, described to reporters how he could see Garafola on surveillance video, firing at the gunman as bullets hit the concrete around him.
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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.
