A funeral was held last Tuesday for PA State Trooper Jacques (Jay) F. Rougeau, Jr., 29,  who was killed in the line of duty on June 17.  Trooper Rougeau, Jr., a native of Corry, PA. was fatally shot by Brandon Stine, 38, of Thompsontown.  Stine also critically wounded PA State Police Lieutenant James Wagner in a separate incident the

Trooper Jacques (Jay) Rougeau

same day.

            The service was held at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie starting at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. The public had an opportunity to pay their respects on Monday with six hours of public visitation.  It was estimated that about 2,500 mourners attended the service.

            Trooper Rougeau was assigned to Troop G, Lewistown Station and enlisted with the State Police in June 2020 as a member of the 160th cadet class.  Upon graduation, he was assigned to Troop J in York before transferring to Troop G, Lewistown in March of this year.

            The Pastor of St. Paul's Church in Corry had the sad responsibility and honor of delivering the homily for the fallen Trooper at the funeral service.  The pastor was the officiant at the graveside service as well in Mifflintown that included a rifle salute and a flyover by a State Police helicopter, signaling the Trooper's "end of watch". 

            The pastor of that church is the Rev. Brian Eiss, a 1991 graduate of Upper

Rev. Brian Eiss

Perkiomen High School.  Rev. Eiss has been pastor of St. Paul's since June 2002.

            Rev. Eiss' opening words of his homily were, "Today is not about answers.  At this point questions don't make sense.  Today is about love."

            Jacques was married to Chloe (Miller) Rougeau.  They knew each other nearly all of their lives having playdates together in kindergarten.  Rev. Eiss shared that he knew Jacques and Chloe since they were teenagers in high school.  Rev. Eiss shared that he officiated at the couple's marriage in 2017 and now, sadly, Jacques' funeral.

             Anyone interested in donating to assist the troopers' families can send a check to the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association (PSTA) at 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.

            Trooper Rougeau, Jr. is the 104th member of the PSP to make the ultimate sacrifice by giving his life in the line of duty.