Police Officers from across Acadiana say goodbye to one of their own today. Lafayette Officer Joel Grayson was killed in a boating accident this past weekend. Hundreds of officers, from surrounding parishes to state police, rode in the procession honoring Lafayette Police Corporal Joel Grayson.
A Lafayette resident says the loss of Officer Grayson is devastating, knowing how he changed her life. Lafayette resident Forenisha Newcoste stood along the procession route for Corporal Joel Grayson.
"One time he came to my house, that was the last time he ever came to my house," said Newcoste. "He told me he's tired of coming to my house and all the domestic violence and everything I'm going through. That I need to stop it, I need to put it to an end, and I took his advice."
Funeral services were held at Our Savior's Church. The procession left immediately following the service. Officers lining up, turning on lights and sirens. The procession lasted about 40 minutes, blocking traffic around Lafayette. The fire department draped an American flag across University Avenue, in front of LPD headquarters. It stopped momentarily for fellow officers to salute Grayson's casket as it passed. They arrived at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens where Grayson was laid to rest.
"Knowing that he was someone, like my brother, serving the community knowing that he passed," said Newcoste. "It's hurting because, mixed with everything else that's going on, its like, just it's devastating."
28-year old Grayson passed away last week following an off-duty boating accident. Corporal Joel Grayson was a 5 and a half year veteran of the Lafayette Police Department. He was assigned to the LPD S.W.A.T team and crime suppression department. Grayson was the recipient of the LPD's most prestigious award----the Medal of Valor.
"Seeing all this for him, it really touched my heart, because it lets me know that he was a good person, he was a good officer, he gave me a lot of good advice," said Newcoste.