A Louisiana police officer has been killed during a SWAT operation, officials say

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana — A Louisiana police officer was killed during a SWAT operation this week, Lafayette police said Friday.

In a statement on its Facebook page, the department identified the slain officer as Senior Cpl. Segus Jolivette, a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team. The husband and father of five joined the department in November 2013 and had previously served as a school resource officer.

The officer was killed Thursday during a SWAT operation in the small southern Louisiana town of Jeanerette. Details about the situation leading up to Jolivette’s death were not immediately available.

Trooper Peggy Bourque, a spokesperson for the Louisiana State Police, told The Associated Press Friday morning that a suspect “has been taken into custody and no longer poses a threat to the public.” Officials have not released the suspect’s name or details.

Several police services and officials expressed their grief over the officer’s death on social media on Thursday evening.

“Today we lost one of our finest workers in the line of duty,” Lafayette Parish Mayor-President Monique Blanco Boulet said in a written statement. “I offer my prayers, my condolences and my support to his wife, his children, his parents and his entire family. They are experiencing the most difficult and unimaginable loss.”

Before joining the Lafayette department, Jolivette worked for the Opelousas Police Department. According to the Lafayette Police Department, Jolivette spent much of his free time supporting the Explorer Program, “helping Lafayette’s youth gain a better understanding of law enforcement operations and the importance of building relationships in our community.”

“His legacy of courage and dedication will be remembered and honored by all who knew him,” Lafayette police said in a statement.

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Associated Press reporters Kevin McGill in New Orleans and Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed to this report.