CENTRAL, La. (BRPROUD) – Kids and staff at the Community Haven Center in Central are making cards for Corporal Scotty Canezaro who died in a helicopter crash during a pursuit.
Two officers with the Baton Rouge Police Department were killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday, March 26. The Baton Rouge Police Department released the names of the officers who were killed in the crash on Monday.
The officers were identified as Sgt. David Poirrier, 47, and Cpl. Scotty Canezaro, 38.
In a news release, the police department said both officers were assisting in a chase when the crash happened. Flags have been lowered to half-staff in honor of both officers at BRPD Headquarters on Airline Highway.
This week, kids at Community Haven Central are drawing and writing one last goodbye to Corporal Scotty Canezaro. They are making cards to send to Corporal Scotty Canezaro’s family, thanking him for his service and friendship.
According to the executive director of Community Haven, Karla Cormier, Corporal Scotty Canezaro was known as “such a kind giving soul.”
The kids and staff at the center called Corporal Scotty Canezaro “Pilot Scotty.” Cormier says Pilot Scotty has come to visit the kids for a few years. The kids demanded to have Pilot Scotty come every summer. Before the crash, she was planning on sending an invite date, asking if he could make time to visit the kids.
“He actually flew into our site on our tennis courts,” says Cormier. “He was showing different occupations, he was one of the focuses of our Hometown Heroes Week.”
According to Cormier, Pilot Scotty worked with many kids in the area at different schools. He showed them the different types of jobs a career in law enforcement can provide, including how to operate a helicopter.
Cormier says it was devastating when she had to break the news to the kids about the deadly helicopter crash.
“When we talked about Pilot Scotty not going to be here this summer, and the accident,” says Cormier, “It was their idea, and they wanted to make cards.”
The kids and staff plan on giving the cards to his family by the end of the week.
On Wednesday, the Baton Rouge Police Department will continue the process of honoring their two fallen heroes. At the request of the families, both Sgt. Poirrier and Cpl. Canezaro will be escorted from the West Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office across the Old Bridge.
BRPD said, “The escort will travel south on Airline Hwy to Connell’s Village and will turn right and then left onto the first BRPD driveway. The escort will then proceed in front of the Police Memorial located at Baton Rouge Police Headquarters, 9000 Airline Hwy and continue out to Airline Hwy.”
The investigation into the deadly crash is still ongoing and under FAA control.
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