NEW ORLEANS, LA (THECOUNT) — Christopher Paul Ohlmeyer, 41, of River Ridge, Louisiana, has been identified as the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy who was killed Friday in a motorcycle crash while escorting a funeral procession in New Orleans, according to officials.
Authorities said the fatal collision occurred near the 9200 block of Airline Highway during a funeral procession escort assignment. Ohlmeyer, who was operating a motorcycle at the time, was pronounced dead at the scene.
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New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick confirmed that the crash happened within the city limits, placing the investigation under the jurisdiction of the New Orleans Police Department. Officials said traffic investigators are collecting video, analytical data, drone footage, and vehicle data as part of the effort to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the fatal crash.
A captain with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office said Ohlmeyer was a 16-year law enforcement veteran, including 14 years with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Officials confirmed he was assigned to escort the funeral procession as part of an off-duty detail that deputies volunteer to perform.
Authorities said the crash involved another vehicle described as a sedan. The driver of that vehicle was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Officials have not released information regarding that person’s condition.
Ohlmeyer was married and the father of two children. Officials confirmed that his family has been notified of the fatal crash.
Chief Kirkpatrick described the incident as a difficult day for both the New Orleans Police Department and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, noting the close working relationship between the agencies. She said both departments would work together to support Ohlmeyer’s family and honor his service.
“Law enforcement is a close-knit profession, and we stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners at JPSO. When one of our own is hurting, we all hurt. This loss is felt far beyond agency lines,” Kirkpatrick said in a statement.
Officials have not released details regarding how the crash occurred, whether speed was a factor, or whether any citations or charges are under consideration. Investigators are expected to continue reviewing collected evidence, including footage and vehicle data, before determining the cause of the crash.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office has not announced funeral arrangements or memorial details at this time. Law enforcement agencies across the region often participate in honors for fallen officers once arrangements are finalized.
Airline Highway is a major thoroughfare that runs through both Jefferson Parish and the City of New Orleans and frequently serves as a route for funeral processions and official escorts. Authorities did not specify the exact intersection where the collision occurred.
The investigation remains active as the New Orleans Police Department works to determine the circumstances that led to the fatal crash during the funeral procession escort.
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