Top law enforcement officials remember officer killed in deadly wreck

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - There was a sea of blue Friday night down Essen Lane to honor the life of Cpl. Shane Totty, who top law enforcement officials call a bright young man and one of the best the Baton Rouge Police Department had to offer.

“This young man was one of BRPD’s finest,” said East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux.

Totty spent six years with the force and had only been on the road in the motorcycle division for about six months. Almost a year ago to the day, he was in the hospital after being shot in the line of duty.

“It’s sad because he was a really bright young man and he had a bright future with the police department,” said BRPD Chief Murphy Paul. “I remember when he was in recovery, he said he wanted to go to motorists and I said, ‘Young man, you can be in any section you want to be in.' He was excited to be a motorist because he was doing something that he loved to do.”

Unfortunately, what he loved to do ended up being what took his life. The 31-year-old officer was tragically struck Friday, Feb. 1 while working a funeral procession. Chief Paul says the horrific circumstances only highlight the grim reality for the many men and women who choose to protect and serve.

“Our police officers put their lives on the line every day and it’s so much that we ask of our police officers and there’s nothing easy about policing,” Paul added. “It is a complex profession.”

As his brothers in blue mourn, investigators with the sheriff’s office continue their work to piece together exactly what happened on Jones Creek Road in the moments before a pickup truck and Totty’s motorcycle collided.

“There is video of the accident that’s available to us, so we want to look at all the video and look at all the evidence involved,” said Gautreaux.

As for the other driver, his name has not yet been released, but Gautreaux says charges are pending as they await a toxicology report and a full review of all available evidence.

“What those charges are, we can’t say at this time until we get finished with our investigation,” he added.

As the investigation continues, the sheriff and chief ask that the community pause and remember what is truly important: a young man, husband, and father is no longer here.

“To leave a young wife and a young child like that, we ask that you remember him and his family in your prayers,” said Gautreaux.

“It’s hard and at any day what happened today can happen to any police officer that’s out there trying to keep us safe,” Paul added.