Seth Dickerson

The (Lafayette, La.) Daily Advertiser

BATON ROUGE, La. — Law enforcement officers from across the country joined several thousand mourners who attended the funeral Saturday of Deputy Brad Garafola.

Garafola, who was 45 and a 24-year veteran of the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, was killed by a lone gunman Sunday, along with two Baton Rouge police officers.

Several speakers talked of the man they knew through his work and his life.

"How do you adequately honor a man who gave the ultimate sacrifice for protecting our community?" said Casey Raybourn Hicks, Sheriff’s Office information director who worked with Garafola for several years. "How do you adequately celebrate a man that lived his life for others, his God, his family, his friends, his community? And how do you comfort his loved ones, who sacrificed so much?

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"Thank you, Brad Garafola, for protecting and serving our community, for holding the line, so that we could be safe. We honor you and celebrate you, and we will never, ever forget."

Jaye Cooper, Garafola’s brother-in-law to Garafola, said that he was like Fred Sanford, always picking up stuff off the side of the road, eventually fixing it up to give to anyone he knew. He would turn some else's trash into someone’s treasure.

Garolfa's wife, Tonya, wrote to him in tribute in the program:

"Brad, I love you. You are my best friend, my soulmate, my rock. And now you will always be my hero, Forever, my love.”

His children also wrote, "We love you Daddy. You are forever our Superman. Fly high."

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In his remarks, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards referenced Joshua 1:9: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with you wherever you go."

Edwards said he didn't know if Garafola was familiar with that verse, but it "defined his life and his death. Strength and courage, every day, all the way to the end."

East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux acknowledged Sgt. Bruce Simmons, who was also shot on Sunday while responding to the call, and asked for prayers for Cpl. Nick Toullier, who is still in the hospital.

"I stand before you today, with a sad and heavy heart. We've lost a beloved husband, a father, a son, a brother, a friend, a colleague, a public servant," Gautreaux said. "A man that was courageous and compassionate, fearless and fair, brave and benevolent. As sheriff, this is my worst fear, to bury one of my own. In 39 years of law enforcement, this is a first. As 27 years as chief of police, and nine years as sheriff, and I pray that this will be the last."

After the service, the deputy's body was carried by horse and carriage — the same one that carried a Dallas officer who was killed during an ambush earlier this month — from the church to Greenoaks Funeral Home.

Thousands of Baton Rouge residents stood along Airline Highway as hundreds of police units from across the U.S. and even Canada made their way to the funeral home.

Signs of love, support and gratitude dotted the crowds, thanking Garafola and the two fallen officers for their ultimate sacrifice. John Arceneaux was one of those. with a sign that read, "Thank you, Brad! You gave it all for us!"

"It's important to show respect for law enforcement. We have to come together," he said. "Hearts go out to the families, and this has broken our heart as well. This is a call for everyone to get along and love one another."

Shelley Bordelon, who said she was a childhood friend of slain Baton Rouge Police Officer Matthew Gerald, brought her children out to show them the sacrifices police make.

"We wanted the kids to see this and appreciate what these people do to keep us safe every day," she said. "They have to put on a bulletproof vest every day to go to work."

Garafola is survived by his wife and four children, who range in age from 7 to 21.

The deputy, killed in what police are calling an ambush, was attempting to save another wounded officer when he was fatally shot, Gautreaux said. Also killed were Baton Rouge police officers Matthew Gerald, 41, and Montrell Jackson, 32.