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Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA) celebrated its fourth annual Leaders in Law Enforcement Awards on Tuesday, August 8th. The 2023 honorees are the Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Department, the 27th Judicial District Attorney’s Office of St. Landry Parish and Louisiana State Police Force Investigation Unit.

The intent of these awards is to bolster morale, increase respect for public service, acknowledge improvements in operations and encourage extraordinary performance among Louisiana’s sheriff’s departments, district attorney’s offices and Louisiana State Police. These awards are designed to honor those departments making the most impact in their communities with the resources they have been allocated. Each department received a $40,000 award to be used at their discretion to improve operations and continue to encourage extraordinary performance and implement meaningful programs. This year’s awards were underwritten by the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation.

“Community Foundation of Acadiana is proud to host and support law enforcement professionals through our Leaders in Law Enforcement Awards. These awards recognize agencies from around our great state that are implementing exceptional and creative programs that enhance public safety and quality of life in their communities,” said Missy Andrade, CEO of Community Foundation of Acadiana.

The Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office (CPSO) was recognized for the implementation and effectiveness of its MERIT (Motivating Engagement - Recognizing Individual Talent) program. MERIT is a community program created by the Franklin Parish Sheriff's Office under the leadership of Sheriff Kevin Cobb. The program aims to address the needs of the community, particularly the youth and adults with developmental disabilities living at home. Its mission is to provide a safe and motivating environment where individuals can recognize their talents and worth.

The 27th Judicial District Attorney’s Office of St. Landry Parish was recognized for effectively addressing community violence in St. Landry Parish, fostering better collaboration between law enforcement agencies, and focusing on supporting and educating the underserved as well as victims in St. Landry Parish.

Louisiana State Police Force Investigation Unit was recognized for continuing to meet adversity with resiliency and its willingness to go beyond the call of duty. Formed in July 2021, this 14-member investigation team oversees complex use-of-force cases within the Louisiana State Police (LSP) and Department of Public Safety (DPS). The unit's creation was a response to recent high-profile use of force cases both in Louisiana and nationwide.

Community Foundation of Acadiana is honored to present these law enforcement awards to such deserving programs. The 2024 application process will begin in January and run through March. All sheriff’s departments, district attorney’s offices, and Louisiana State Police troops/sections from around the state are invited and encouraged to apply. Applications can be found by visiting www.cfacadiana.org/leadersinlaw

2023 Leaders in Law Enforcement Award Recipients

The Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office (CPSO)





The 27th Judicial District Attorney’s Office of St. Landry Parish




Louisiana State Police Force Investigation Unit


Past Award Recipients

Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office (2022)

The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office (CPSO) is being recognized for the implementation and effectiveness of its Cyber Crime Unit.

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1st Judicial District Attorney’s Office of Caddo Parish (2022)

​The 1st Judicial District Attorney’s Office of Caddo Parish is recognized for its Exit Strategy Program, a diversion program aimed at curtailing sex trafficking which resonates from the I-49 corridor.

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Louisiana State Police Troop D (2022)

​Louisiana State Police Troop D is recognized for continuing to meet adversity with resiliency and its willingness to go beyond the call of duty.

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Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office (2022)

The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office (CPSO) is being recognized for the implementation and effectiveness of its Cyber Crime Unit.

This special unit was formed to address the rising number of child pornography and cyber enticement cases in the community. In August 2020, the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office created the Cyber Crime Unit to enhance investigative response combatting predators using the internet and online communication to sexually exploit juveniles. A specially trained lead investigator and two support investigators were brought together to form the Cyber Crime Unit.

To properly equip this new team, Sheriff Hedrick purchased Oxygen Forensics mobile extraction software and The GrayKey, a state-of-the-art forensic access tool, that extracts encrypted or inaccessible data from mobile devices and computers. The Cyber Crime Unit has one of only a few GrayKey products in the state of Louisiana. In July 2021, the CPSO launched a smartphone application to give users the ability to submit tips anonymously. This app has had such tremendous success with multiple sex crimes reported and thus solved through submissions.

It is not unusual for the Cyber Crime Unit investigators to spend up to 600 hours per case reviewing messages, call logs, and photos from multiple types of digital media, including computers, cell phones, and tablets. They sift through volumes of dark material that no one should be subjected to. This takes a significant emotional toll on the investigators. They obtain warrants, conduct interviews, and affect arrests. Their motivation comes from seeing the end result of getting victims out of damaging and dangerous situations, providing justice for families who have lost loved ones, and getting sex offenders off the streets. A Victims Advocate was added to the CPSO staff to work closely with the Cyber Crime Unit to enhance communication with juveniles involved in sex crimes and victims of domestic violence.

The Victims Advocate brings a sensitive approach to supporting and interviewing traumatized victims and offers suggestions to the investigators on how to approach juvenile victims so they feel safe and comfortable telling their stories.

The success of the Cyber Crime Unit has been tremendous in just two short years. Investigators have worked over 291 cases, and all have been resolved. The accomplishments of this team have greatly impacted the Concordia Parish community as well as communities throughout the state by identifying multiple child predators and obtaining help and assistance for their victims.

1st Judicial District Attorney’s Office of Caddo Parish (2022)

​The 1st Judicial District Attorney’s Office of Caddo Parish is recognized for its Exit Strategy Program, a diversion program aimed at curtailing sex trafficking which resonates from the I-49 corridor.

According to the FBI, most Caddo Parish sex trafficking arrests happen when victims are being transported to Dallas, Atlanta, and beyond. The Caddo Parish DA’s Office recognizes that sex trafficking is a threat to both children and adults in the community. Trafficking victims face a myriad of physical and mental health issues, homelessness, and criminal charges.

Trafficking victims are often forced into prostitution to provide income for their traffickers or to provide for themselves if they have escaped their traffickers. Through a life of prostitution, the victims face arrest, prosecution, jail time, and fines, which all add to their criminal history. This criminal history creates barriers to educational programs and jobs that pay a living wage. In response to the human trafficking crisis, the Caddo Parish DA’s office partnered with HUB Ministry. This partnership enables women who are facing criminal charges of prostitution to enter the Exit Strategy diversion program. Exit Strategy is a life skills and wellness program where those women can gain access to resources that lead to full recovery and restoration. Exit Strategy offers both a non-residential and residential program. Once participants complete either the non-residential or residential program, the Caddo Parish DA’s office dismisses the participant's criminal charges. Remarkably, none of the Exit Strategy participants have re-offended. Just a few success stories include a licensed realtor, a medical assistant, and the owner of a cleaning business.

The Caddo Parish DA’s Office also works to rehabilitate “Johns” – those who solicit sex trafficking victims who are working as prostitutes. The offenders learn about the devastating impact of human trafficking and its consequences on the community and individuals. Once the offenders successfully complete the John School, The DA’s office dismisses their charges of promoting prostitution.

The Caddo Parish DA’s Office also provides diversion for youthful offenders who are sex-trafficking victims. S.T.A.R (Succeeding Through Achievement and Resiliency) Court provides interventions for delinquent youth who are victims of sex trafficking. Once S.T.A.R Court youthful offenders complete their programs, the district attorney closes their case.

The Caddo DA’s office has developed and expanded programs to help sex trafficking victims lead healthy, productive lives. These diversion initiatives allow participants to gain access to resources that lead to full recovery and restoration while ending the revolving door into the criminal justice system

Louisiana State Police Troop D (2022)

​Louisiana State Police Troop D is recognized for continuing to meet adversity with resiliency and its willingness to go beyond the call of duty.

The legacy of Troop D strives for 100% compliance because public trust is essential, not incidental to the functioning of the organization. Over the past few years, in addition to the pandemic, Troop D has been challenged with numerous extraordinary weather-related events, yet the troop has continued to remain steadfast.

During the calamity of Hurricane Laura, troopers, both on and off duty, accepted the challenge to serve the community, reinforcing the troop's commitment to excellence by supporting area organizations both in and out of their immediate area. While continuing to reinforce the Highway Regulatory Act, troopers took time to share supplies and provide assistance where needed. In the months following the storm, troopers continued to provide food and supplies to affected families through the Meals on Wheels program. The following year, when Troop C’s region was ravaged by Hurricane Ida, Troop D headed east to assist their fellow troopers in need. They helped with patrols, meal preparation, and assisting families struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida.

Troop D again stepped up when they stepped out of Louisiana to help residents of Orange, Texas, during a heavy rainstorm that left their neighbors to the west flooded inside their homes. Troopers traveled by foot and worked tirelessly to ensure multiple families were rescued from the rising waters that would have likely taken the lives of many if not for the swift action of troopers. Following the rescues, troopers gathered essential medicine and equipment for many of the residents.

Each year, Troop D holds the Steven Vincent Memorial Team 5k event to remember the life of Senior Trooper Steven Vincent, who was tragically killed in the line of duty in 2015. The goal of the event is three-fold: to raise money to provide level 4 vests for each trooper, to support Trooper Charities which aids terminally and chronically ill children, and provide programs where troopers help to sponsor and coordinate fishing trips and youth hunting trips benefitting underprivileged and inner-city youth.

Furthermore, Troop D participates in numerous community engagement projects, including a partnership with Axiall (formerly PPG Industries), in which they host an annual Skills for Life Camp geared toward school-aged students in grades 6-8. Since 1998, over 700 middle school students have attended the camp, where they spend one week during the summer learning various practical skills and life lessons as they are mentored by troopers. This is a great opportunity for troopers to interact with the campers and positively influence them, even saving some from a life of crime. Troop D firmly believes they are only as strong as the community they serve.

Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office (2021)

The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office is recognized for successfully creating a safe space and fun atmosphere where deputies can interact daily with kids in the community.

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Lafourche District Attorney’s Office (2021)

The 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office of Lafourche Parish is recognized for its RESPECT U Program which was launched in 2018.

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Louisiana State Police Troop C (2021)

Louisiana State Police Troop C is recognized for a myriad of developments and partnerships implemented in their region which have drastically improved road safety and reduced the accidental death rate.

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Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office (2021)

The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office is recognized for successfully creating a safe space and fun atmosphere where deputies can interact daily with kids in the community.

In 2017, the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office opened a one-of-a-kind community center and park which is strictly serviced and maintained by the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. The Hickley M. Waguespack Center and Park, named after a sheriff who went to great lengths to modernize the sheriff’s office during the Civil Rights Movement, provides an outlet for children and residents of Donaldsonville and West Ascension to interact with deputies in a positive way. The driving force behind the project was due to the sheriff’s office responding to incidents of violent crime in the area over the past several years. Since opening, crime in the area has decreased in a tremendous way, and children, as well as adults, now have a safe space to play, do homework, and interact with a deputy in a positive way.

The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office is committed to community policing at the highest levels by not just policing the parish and attending various community events, but embedding themselves in the community that they serve and protect by providing computers, internet access, an abundance of age-appropriate books, and partnerships with libraries, schools, and other community organizations monthly.

The Waguespack Center is staffed by a 20-year veteran deputy, a retired Major, a retired Captain, and a groundskeeper. Future plans for the Waguespack Center and Park includes the addition of an early childhood development center which will allow the Ascension Sheriff’s Office to be a part of the solution in making a significant impact on scholastic success and helping to improve social responsibility, socioeconomic status, lower crime rates, all while providing a positive impact on community policing.

Lafourche District Attorney’s Office (2021)

The 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office of Lafourche Parish is recognized for its RESPECT U Program which was launched in 2018.

RESPECT U was established after studying the underlying causes of habitual criminal activity. The reoccurring theme among the defendants was a severe lack of proper respect. RESPECT U is an umbrella program incorporated into existing school programs that focuses on self-respect, respect for others, and respect for the community at large. Community support was garnered through the distribution of yard signs and stickers, a promotional video including local students, campaigns via press releases and social media, and engaging community stakeholders. A few of the age-specific programs include: Introduction to Respect which begins in 4th grade, PEP Talk which is a gender-specific program for middle schoolers focusing on self-esteem for girls and conflict resolution for boys, and Domino Effect and Wobble Goggles for high schoolers which focuses on the dangers of distracted and impaired driving.

The Lafourche Parish DA’s office also values the senior citizens in its community and hosts Senior Sources events throughout the parish. Through a partnership with the Clerk of Court and the parish Assessor, these educational seminars serve to educate seniors who are often seen as easy targets for scammers thus becoming victims of crime. The partnered agencies discuss resources available to the seniors and the easiest way to access these resources.

Additionally, as part of its Victims’ Rights Department, the Lafourche Parish DA’s Office has a licensed clinical social worker who, on a daily basis, identifies victims who need to be contacted immediately. This personal contact with the victim is one of the most important steps in building trust, not only with the DA’s office but within the criminal justice system.

Louisiana State Police Troop C (2021)

Louisiana State Police Troop C is recognized for a myriad of developments and partnerships implemented in their region which have drastically improved road safety and reduced the accidental death rate.

Beginning at Troop C, the TrafficStat Program was developed to reduce crashes, thus reducing injuries and fatalities. With research, Troop C was able to focus enforcement efforts in the areas, days, and times crashes were happening by targeting specific violations. TrafficStat was so successful that it was written into State Police Policy for every Troop to utilize. “Zero for the Holidays,” one of TrafficStat’s Programs, partners with local law enforcement agencies, DA’s Offices, and media outlets to bring awareness to safe and sober driving during the holiday season.

Through a partnership with the South Central Safety Coalition, Troop C was able to design, build and maintain a mobile Breath Alcohol Testing Bus making them the only troop in the state to have such a bus. Troop C has also launched enforcement and awareness campaigns which have brought positive results. “Specialized Enforcement Details” targets areas and violations common to crashes resulting in an average of 1,735 citations per year. This combined with an awareness campaign that includes presentations in schools, businesses, and professional organizations has resulted in a 40% increase in DWI arrests and seatbelt citations and a 37% reduction in deaths.

Troop C was the first troop to provide a Bereavement Package to victim’s families which includes useful information including legal paperwork, guidance, and information on local District Attorney’s Offices to assist families through the victim’s rights process.

Continuing education remains paramount to Troop C’s mission, and they are proud to bolster the highest number of troopers and supervisors who have passed the difficult 10-week crash reconstruction series of classes offered through Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety.

Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Department (2020)

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Department is recognized for their Deputies Making a Change (DMAC) Program, a mentoring program initiated to address the incarceration and school dropout rate among vulnerable male youth in Ouachita Parish.

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40th Judicial District Attorney’s Office of St. John the Baptist Parish (2020)

The 40th Judicial District Attorney’s Office of St. John the Baptist Parish is recognized for implementing impactful opportunities for those most at risk.

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Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Department (2020)

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Department is recognized for their Deputies Making a Change (DMAC) Program, a mentoring program initiated to address the incarceration and school dropout rate among vulnerable male youth in Ouachita Parish.

DMAC services male students ages 9-18 by offering support in academics, future planning, hygiene, money management, healthy lifestyle regimens, life skills, college and career readiness, and problem solving. DMAC addresses the need for strong mentors in a positive environment, educational support and improving behavior. The purpose of the program is to decrease the amount of school suspensions and expulsions, increase school attendance and maintain or increase grade point averages among at-risk youth in Ouachita Parish. Over the last 12 years, DMAC has directly impacted over 5000 students and has a 98% graduation success rate. DMAC Founder, Deputy Sheriff Kenneth Tramble along with Lt. Eric McElroy and Cpl. Marvin McFarland continue to remind the mentees, “ You cannot let where you come from dictate where you will go in life.” The DMAC Program shows young men how to change their lives and create success for themselves.

40th Judicial District Attorney’s Office of St. John the Baptist Parish (2020)

The 40th Judicial District Attorney’s Office of St. John the Baptist Parish is recognized for implementing impactful opportunities for those most at risk.

Opportunity Now, a collaboration with the LA Workforce Commission, XP Synergy, and LA Rehabilitation Services has provided more than 100 low risk, non-violent, first-time offenders the opportunity to receive life skills and work readiness training to divert individuals out of the Criminal Justice System. It also fosters intervention that is accountable to effectuate successful outcomes and change their trajectory to get back on the right path. Since the program’s inception, in May 2015, only three graduates have re-offended. St. John P.R.O.U.D., a proactive crime prevention program, focuses on providing young adults life-changing employment opportunities that will deter them from embarking on a life of crime. District Attorney Bridget A. Dinvaut also recognizes the positive impact that education, combined with meaningful opportunities, can have on a person’s life. According to Dinvaut, in many instances, criminal activity becomes an economic opportunity for many young adults that are not employed or in school. District Attorney Dinvaut wholeheartedly believes that crime prevention, restorative justice, and rehabilitation programs are vital to public safety and investing in the future of her community family, St. John the Baptist Parish.

Save the Date
08
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Leaders in Law Enforcement Awards

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11:00am
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River Ranch City Club