Morgan City police chie dies from gunshot

Shortly after midnight Saturday, Morgan City police received information that Morgan City Police Chief Travis Crouch, 46, died due to a single gunshot wound while on leisure time in Biloxi, Miss., Morgan City Assistant Chief Michael Banks said at a news conference Saturday afternoon while surrounded by Morgan City police officers.
The Biloxi Police Department advised that the investigation into Crouch's death is ongoing, and no foul play is suspected, Banks said.
The Sun Herald in Biloxi reported that Biloxi police said Crouch died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound and was found dead in a room at the Beau Rivage Hotel-Casino. However, it was unclear whether it was accidental or suicide, the Sun Herald reported.
Morgan City Mayor Frank "Boo" Grizzaffi said, "This is a tough blow to the City of Morgan City. It's not only tough to the city, the entire parish but to the family that has been left behind."
Crouch began his career with the Morgan City Police Department in 1991 and was appointed police chief Feb. 26, 2013.
The police department will continue to "carry on," Grizzaffi said. "Not only was Chief Crouch an outstanding person, but he had proven to be an outstanding police chief," Grizzaffi said.
Grizzaffi said the city can do one of two things in response to Crouch's passing. "We can either turn around and crawl in a hole, or we can take what we learned in this short year of Travis' excellent work as a police chief and get behind Assistant Chief Banks and move forward," Grizzaffi said.
The Morgan City Police Department "will do everything possible" to help Crouch's family "cope with this tragedy," Banks said.
Grizzaffi and Morgan City council members notified members of the Morgan City Police Department this morning of Crouch's death, Banks said.
"Chief Crouch began making innovative and positive changes within our department. Chief Crouch demanded a higher standard of service from his officers to better serve the members of our community," Banks said.
"Although we grieve with Chief Crouch's family, and our community, we, the members of Morgan City Police Department, we vow to continue to achieve the higher standards Chief Crouch set in motion," Banks said.
Grizzaffi said, "Looking in the eyes of our police force this morning ... It's a tough thing."
Funeral arrangements for Crouch will be announced as soon as they become available, Banks said.
Banks will fill the vacancy left by Crouch, as provided by civil service law, Grizzaffi said. The city may look at advertising for the position of police chief "after a certain amount of time," he said. "Right now, there's no intention to do anything but get behind Assistant Chief Banks and continue to do the good work that Travis has started," Grizzaffi said.