Led by police units, funeral procession brings fallen state Trooper Rougeau to Erie

Ed Palattella and Tim Hahn, Erie Times-News
Updated ·3 min read

CORRY, Pa. — The funeral procession for fallen Pennsylvania State Trooper Jacques "Jay" F. Rougeau Jr. left the 29-year-old's native Corry on Monday and traveled from southeastern Erie County north to the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, where thousands are expected to attend his viewing on Monday and funeral on Tuesday.

About a dozen Pennsylvania State Police cruisers and 17 state police and Erie Bureau of Police motorcycle units led the approximately 50-minute procession, which left the Bracken Funeral Home in Corry at 9:25 a.m.

The route included Route 89 through Wattsburg, Interstate 90 in Harborcreek Township and the Bayfront Parkway in Erie. The procession arrived at the Bayfront Convention Center shortly before 10:55 a.m.

In Corry, groups of people stood silently on sidewalks at the intersection of North Center and Smith streets as the procession began its journey.

The funeral procession for Jacques "Jay" F. Rougeau Jr., a Pennsylvania State Police trooper who was fatally shot while on duty in central Pennsylvania, passes north through Wattsburg, Pa., on Monday. Viewing and the funeral for Rougeau will take place at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie.
The funeral procession for Jacques "Jay" F. Rougeau Jr., a Pennsylvania State Police trooper who was fatally shot while on duty in central Pennsylvania, passes north through Wattsburg, Pa., on Monday. Viewing and the funeral for Rougeau will take place at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie.

Farther north on North Center Street and along Route 6 heading out of town, a scattering of people stood on front porches and in parking lots and sat in folding chairs and in the back of SUVs, their rear hatches lifted, to pay their respects to the fallen trooper.

Outside of the Corry Plaza on Route 6, tower trucks from the Corry and Edinboro fire departments formed an arch that the procession passed under as it made its way to Erie.

The public viewing for Rougeau is scheduled for two sessions Monday, from noon to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier. The funeral service will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the same location.

The Pennsylvania State Police said the Commonwealth Media Services will provide a livestream and a satellite feed of Tuesday's service at pacast.com/live/psp.

Rougeau was assigned to Troop G at Lewistown when he was killed June 17 during a shootout in Juniata County in central Pennsylvania. He is the 104th member of the state police to be killed in the line of duty. Rougeau was living in Mifflintown, Juniata County.

The funeral procession for fallen Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Jacques "Jay" F. Rougeau Jr., 29, leaves his native Corry en route to the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie on Monday. The public visitation is on Monday and the funeral on Tuesday at the Convention Center.
The funeral procession for fallen Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Jacques "Jay" F. Rougeau Jr., 29, leaves his native Corry en route to the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie on Monday. The public visitation is on Monday and the funeral on Tuesday at the Convention Center.

Another state trooper, Lt. James Wagner, was wounded in a separate encounter with the same shooter in Juniata County. The suspect, Brandon Stine, 38, was killed in an exchange of gunfire after the shootings, according to state police.

Wattsburg, Pa., Postmaster Matt McCreadie pays his respects as the funeral procession for Jacques "Jay" F. Rougeau Jr., a Pennsylvania State Police trooper who was fatally shot while on duty in central Pennsylvania, passes north through Wattsburg on Monday. Viewing and the funeral for Rougeau will take place at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie.

Rougeau's body was flown to the Corry-Lawrence Airport on June 19. Following the funeral on Tuesday, the funeral procession will travel from the Bayfront Convention Center to Corry. There will be a private graveside ceremony in Mifflintown at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association Survivor's Fund, 3625 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110. The check should be made out to the "Survivor's Fund," with the name of the trooper written in the memo portion of the check, the state police said.

Wattsburg Hose Co. Capt. Chris Evans, left, and Chief Marty Hamilton pay their respects as the funeral procession for Jacques "Jay" F. Rougeau Jr., a Pennsylvania State Police trooper who was fatally shot while on duty in central Pennsylvania, passes north through Wattsburg, Pa., on Monday. Viewing and the funeral for Rougeau will take place at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie.

The state police said it was warning the public about phone requests seeking donations related to Rougeau. The state police "will not call and ask directly at any time for donations under any type of circumstances," the state police said in a statement. It said the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, known as the PTSA, is accepting donations via the mail at the Harrisburg address.

Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNpalattella.

Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNhahn.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Funeral procession for fallen state Trooper Rougeau heads to Erie