Community members, family, and friends in Corry lined the streets to welcome State Trooper  Jacques Rougeau Jr. home.

Earlier in the day, Erie News Now spoke to former Corry Police Chief Richard Shopene, who knew Rougeau since he was a boy.

Shopene said he remembers Rougeau as the boy who would wave to police cars and officers whenever they drove by.

He also remembers him as a basketball player who went to school and played with Shopene's son, and was always a mentor to young children in the community.

"Jay always wanted to help people," Shopene said. "He would help the younger players improve, teach them what he knew about basketball, and help them all along."

"It was a proud moment when I heard he was accepted into the State Police and then when he graduated and became a State Trooper," said Shopene. "I was proud and I was grateful that I had sometime of helping hand in moving him in that direction."

Shopene said Rougeau always wanted to be a police officer and even did an internship under him. 

Erie News Now spoke to several community members waiting for the procession and many of them knew him, went to school with him and kept echoing about how kind and compassionate he was and how much of a loss it will be to the community.