The downed Baton Rouge Police Department helicopter and the bodies of two officers were discovered Sunday morning by law enforcement only after a family member of one of the victims called to request a search about eight hours after the incident, the sheriff’s office said West Baton Rouge.
Sheriff’s deputies, upon receiving the call at 10:48 a.m., searched a rural area between North Winterville Road and Bueche Road and discovered the downed helicopter and two deceased officers, according to a press release from the West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office. Shortly after discovering the crash, BRPD was notified by the sheriff’s office, according to the press release.
Sergeant David Poirrier, 47, and Cpl. Scotty Canezaro, 38, was killed when the helicopter they were piloting in pursuit of a suspect crashed at 2:36 a.m. Sunday, according to the BRPD and the Federal Aviation Administration.
BRPD spokesman L’Jean McKneely Jr. acknowledged the delay Monday night and said the BRPD is investigating why it happened.
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“It’s all part of the investigation,” McKneely said. “We’re working with Baton Rouge Airport, the FAA, we’re looking at various things to find out why there has been such a time delay.”
Poirrier was a 17-year BRPD veteran assigned to the Air Support Unit. Canezaro was a 16-year BRPD veteran who was also assigned to the Air Support Unit.
“The public is asked to continue to lift up in prayer the families and loved ones of our fallen officers at this very difficult time,” BRPD wrote in a statement Monday.
According to a BRPD Facebook post, Poirrier and Canezaro were voted BRPD Officers of the Month in October 2019. The two men were licensed helicopter pilots and trained tactical flight officers who “played an important role in apprehending fleeing suspects during active pursuits,” according to the Post, which hailed the men as outstanding representatives of the BRPD’s mission and values.
“We lost two very good pilots, two very good police officers and two very good individuals,” said Bill Profita, spokesman for the Baton Rouge Union of Police, Monday night. “The men and women who do this fly under all kinds of circumstances. … It’s inherently dangerous, but when the bell rings, they answer. Unfortunately, this time there was tragedy and it’s very difficult for everyone to accept and understand.”
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