Motorcycle Police Officer Killed During President Barack Obama’s Motorcade
A Jupiter motorcycle police officer that was in President Barack Obama’s campaign motorcade was killed Sunday after being struck by a large pickup truck. President Obama allegedly did not see the accident. The name of the driver that caused the accident was not released.
Jupiter Officer Bruce St. Laurent, a 55-year-old and a 20-year veteran of the Jupiter Police Department was part of one of the various Palm Beach County agencies that assisted with security for the president’s visit.
Per standard motorcade procedures for the area, Officer St. Laurent made an attempt to prepared to shut down Interstate 95 when a white Ford F-150 hit him. He was ejected off his motorcycle according to Teri Barbera, a Palm Beach County Sheriff spokeswoman.
Emergency services arrived and an ambulance took him to St. Mary’s Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Sgt. Scott Pascarella had trained Officer St. Laurent when he was fresh into the force as a new officer at the Jupiter Police Department. The Sargent was at a loss of words for the interview and his face filled with anguish.
“We didn’t lose a co-worker. We lost a friend,” Pascarella told the newspaper. “He would do anything for anyone.” He often played the role of Santa Clause for the local Head Start program. According to the Post, St. Laurent had been in the force serving as a motorcycle officer for at least 18-years. In 2005, he earned the Distinguished Service Award which had been given by the Traffic Safety Committee of the Palm Beaches.
Florida Highway Patrol along with the Sheriff’s Office will be investigating the crash and they have not released the name of the driver behind the F-150 pickup truck. So far, there have been no charges filed against the driver, according to the SF Gate.
Pres. Obama had been on the second day of a bus tour of the Florida state. He was scheduled to make a campaign appearance Sunday at Palm Beach County Convention Center. Jay Carney, a White House press secretary said that Pres. Obama did not see the accident when it happened, but was made aware by an official.
Previous to the accident that resulted in his death, Officer St. Laurent had been in another accident with his motorcycle. Newspaper reports from 2001 said that the he was injured in a car chase when the vehicle he was after made an abrupt stop and he rammed the rear of it. The occupants were arrested.
Further details of the crash will be made available as soon as the family is notified.
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