Trooper Donald Charles Cleveland, Louisiana State Police, Louisiana

Trooper Donald Charles Cleveland

Louisiana State Police, Louisiana

End of Watch Saturday, July 2, 1977

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Donald Charles Cleveland

Trooper Donald Cleveland was shot and killed during a traffic stop near Lafayette, Louisiana.

He had stopped the vehicle with juveniles inside on Louisiana 94 after it left a nightclub between Lafayette and Breaux Bridge.

The 17-year-old driver had just been released from prison for a murder he committed only two years earlier. The juvenile was sentenced to death for Trooper Cleveland's murder and was the last prisoner to be executed by the electric chair in Louisiana.

Trooper Cleveland had served with the Louisiana State Police for 1-1/2 years. He was survived by his wife and two children.

Bio

Age 26
Tour 1 year, 6 months
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
Offender Executed

convicted felon, juvenile offender, traffic stop

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Most Recent Reflection

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My best buddy in the academy. Went to Troop I together. I was coming off of the dog shift in Iberia Parish, out with a violator when I began to hear the transmissions on the radio. When the desk said to the first trooper on the scene “You advise I-67 is 10-7”, it hit me like a ton of bricks.

TFC DeJean
Louisiana State Police

February 23, 2025