LSP Changes and Initiatives

Building Trust

We are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of law enforcement and serving the people of Louisiana with integrity and professionalism. We will continue to work towards improving our agency and providing the best possible service to Louisiana.

• Our mission, vision, and values reflect our commitment to safeguarding the citizens and visitors of Louisiana through fair and impartial enforcement of laws and decision-making.
• Our values are non-negotiable and are integral to our commitment to procedural justice. We understand that our DPS personnel are representatives of our agency and the state of Louisiana, and we take this responsibility seriously.
• To better serve the citizens of Louisiana and those who visit our state, LSP is closely evaluating how future troopers are trained and researching practices to improve this training.

Focus on Transparency

We have recently implemented a new policy aimed at ensuring the timely release of video evidence from critical incidents to the public. Under this policy, known as the Critical Incident Briefing Video (CIBV) Policy, video-recorded imagery of critical incidents involving Department personnel shall be released to the public within twenty-one (21) days of the incident. Additionally, the Superintendent has the authority to authorize the production of CIBVs for incidents that involve outside agencies.

Professional Standards and Compliance

The Professional Standards and Compliance (PS&C) Section was created in 2022 to oversee, coordinate, and implement the numerous opportunities for growth, advancement, and enhancement revealed to our agency through our ongoing assessments and evaluations.

PS&C is building a unified organizational vision through various initiatives focused on 21st Century Policing principles like fair and impartial policing, community engagement, and de-escalation. These initiatives include:

• Developing policies for community engagement, improving transparency, incorporating de-escalation concepts, and stops, searches, and arrests.
• Reassessing our strategic plan with a focus on specific indicators that are aligned with our reform initiatives.
• Working with the training academy to conduct a comprehensive gap analysis and enhance the training of future troopers.
• Reviewing the promotional and hiring practices of LSP and evaluating ways to recruit and retain a diverse workforce.

Training and Accountability

• LSP has implemented enhanced De-escalation Training (LEADS), Duty to Intervene (ABLE), and Implicit Bias training for LSP/DPS commissioned officers.
• Cadet Class 102 is being trained to serve as guardians, rather than warriors. Their training is designed to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to protect human life. Out of the 175 elective hours being taught to CC102, a significant 33% will be focused solely on this crucial aspect of their role.
• We have increased our focus on utilizing emotional intelligence to develop intrapersonal skills, stress management, and adaptability to better serve and protect the public. An enhanced Early Identification System (EIS) is being created for alerting supervisors of employees with possible indicators of high stress.
• We are prioritizing fair and impartial policing and the pillars of procedural justice to promote positive organizational change, increase community trust, foster a system of impartial decision-making, and enhance officer safety.

Improving Technology

We have launched a new website designed to enhance engagement with the citizens of Louisiana, while also providing a more user-friendly and intuitive online experience. New features include:

• Increased accessibility for those with disabilities.
• Content translation available in over 100 languages.
• Online compliment/complaint portal.
• Department policies available for public viewing.

LSP is implementing a statewide E-citation Program, which will expedite the issuance of citations, reduce errors, and provide accurate and real time information, and will be used in conjunction with the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Mark 43 reporting system.

• All enforcement activities generated by LSP will be tracked and reported in one electronic system.
• The system will house reports generated by Patrol and the Bureau of Investigations.
• The robust analytics of the system will allow the Department to identify crime trends and trends in use of force and pursuit incidents.

New Policies and Procedures

Force Investigation Unit (FIU)

In February 2022, FIU began its role as a statewide unit of specially trained detectives who investigate DPS-related use of force incidents including, but not limited to, officer-involved shootings, other deadly force, retaliatory force, and in-custody deaths.

Body Worn Camera Policy

• This policy enhances accountability and requires BWCs and in-car camera systems to be powered up and ready to record.
• It also requires emergency vehicle operations (lights and sirens) to be recorded and mandates the transportation of prisoners to be recorded at all times, unless they are in a prohibited recording facility (e.g. hospital).
• The policy mandates the recording of travel to a pursuit or known use of force encounter. It outlines procedures for supervisory quarterly video reviews and procedures to document/report misconduct discovered during quarterly reviews.

Use of Force Policy

• The policy bans chokeholds and the use of impact weapons to the head or neck area unless deadly force is justified.
• It states that officers should exercise sound judgment based on reverence for human life and adds duty to intervene language.
• The policy mandates that Troopers and DPS Officers carry a Taser if the officer is certified and trained.