July 25 marked the first anniversary of Lafayette Police Sr. Cpl. Segus Jolivette’s untimely death. Every time I read one of Claire Taylor’s articles, it grieves me even more because it raises so many questions that, in my mind, are still unanswered.
Why was the Lafayette Police Department’s SWAT unit even there? Are there any LPD rules that spell out which events warrant an LPD SWAT unit response to an event 35 miles away in the town of Jeanerette?
The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office has a SWAT unit and is a mere 11.5 miles away from Jeanerette. Likewise, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office has a Special Response Team which is 13.6 miles away. Were they not able to handle this? If not, why not?…