OPELOUSAS, La. ( KLFY ) — In Opelousas, the community mourns the loss of one of their own, but those who knew Sr. Cpl. Segus R. Jolivette say his smile and his passion will live on.

“To know Segus would be to know the smile that he portrayed everywhere you went,” Dwight Brown with the Opelousas Police Department, said. “As long as I knew him. All he ever wanted to do was be a police officer.”

“That was his life, his passion,” former Opelousas Police Chief Martin McLendon said. “Besides his family, that badge he wore with honor. He wore it with dignity. And he had integrity.”

Jolivette’s colleagues said he was always determined to be a police officer, being a standout in the Opelousas Junior Police program and being a reserve officer before joining the police department full time.

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That determination would be shown through his unmatched work ethic and lessons he learned from officers he admired such as Graig LeBlanc.

“And if this young man could work 365 days a year, if it would have been his decision, he would have done so,” Perry Gallow, former Opelousas police chief, said. “That’s how much he loved being around police department, the officers, being there to assist others.”

“Segus Jolivette was the epitome of a first-class law enforcement officer,” McLendon said. “His shoes were shined, his uniform was clean, and he was determined to be the best.”

Although there is pain in the hearts of Jolivette’s mentors and friends, they look back at the impact Jolivette made on their lives and the memories that will never die.

“To see him get into law enforcement and continue to be the good guy that he was,” Jody White with the Opelousas Police Department said. “That’s what I’ll always remember.”

“I’m grateful I had the opportunity to help him to become what he’s always dreamt of,” Gallow said. “I’m grateful for the family sacrificing as well and sharing him with those he served. We owe them a debt of gratitude for his service.”

“I will always remember him as being that determined young man who took care of his family,” McLendon said. “And he took care of that badge, and he represented the best of law enforcement.”

“He would want us to mourn, but the Bible even said, ‘Don’t mourn like there’s no tomorrow, because through faith, hope, and Jesus we all shall meet again as long as we’re saved’,” Brown said.

News 10 would like to send our condolences to the family and friends of Jolivette, who we were unable to speak to today. News 10 would also like to issue a sincere thank you to Jolivette for his committed service.

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