Arnaudville Police Department
Prêt à protéger, fier de servir
Prêt à protéger, fier de servir
Ready to protect. Proud to Serve
Ready to protect. Proud to Serve
The Chief's Blog
The Chief's Blog
The Tide Will Turn
The Tide Will Turn
November 17, 2021
As we enter the holiday season – the season of “giving”, I reflect on the last year as your Chief. It has been a challenging year, both professionally and personally, but because I am a man of faith, I have to believe that my Maker is ultimately in control.
As a Police Chief managing a small rural department, my biggest challenge has been recruiting and retaining quality personnel. Arnaudville suffers the same fate and the same struggles as almost every other law enforcement agency in the country. We must recognize those elements that are impacting our efforts, and fight against some of the negative attitudes and perceptions we get from some of our citizens, from municipal officials, and from within our own ranks. We must acknowledge that there exists leadership that does not have the best interest of our citizens in mind; leadership that often turns its back on the brave and committed men and women who carry the badge and wear the uniform. There are invisible forces behind the scenes who would change the fundamental direction and values we have fought for for generations.
My over two decades serving in law enforcement has obviously been met with moments of challenge – Hurricane Katrina, big city crime, facing the tragedy and sorrow of fallen officers, meeting families of victims, and more – all to be anticipated as a police officer. What I never anticipated was a national movement that vilifies, disregards, dismisses and destroys the lives and livelihoods of decent, honest and hard-working law enforcement officers. A top-to-bottom movement that ultimately results in more crime, more disorder, and more chaos in communities and trauma to innocent citizens. As in every such movement, we always see a course correction, and I am optimistic that we will see the tide turn.
As I reflect on a personal level, I count the many family and friends who have been touched by a global pandemic that left us nowhere to hide and no immunity from devastating loss. My own brother succumbed to Covid-19, as did many of his fellow nursing home residents. Otherwise healthy family members, young and old did not escape the clutches of Covid. Attempting to understand the rationale for restrictions, mandates, and closures left more confusion, division and distrust. Covid took lives, but also took much more from us – our compassion, tolerance, empathy and trust. We are left as cynical, suspicious and mistrustful citizens choosing sides, and isolating and ostracizing those who dare to contradict or question.
But, as we move through all of this, we are left with our faith. Faith that tells us that while we are all on borrowed time, the best is still ahead of us. Life is constantly renewing, evolving and transforming into something better. We only need to wait, because the course will be corrected. The pendulum will swing the other way.
For those who can never see beyond their own selfishness or greed, or who fail to believe life is about giving and not taking, I have pity for them. The misery and hurt they inflict on others will come back to rest on their own souls. For the majority of us, the holiday season - the season of “giving” is but a time when our challenges, our pain and our struggles are overshadowed by the good we can do for others.
Happy Holidays, Arnaudville!
Blog
What it takes prior to a drug bust...
| Posted on May 22, 2014 at 8:24 PM |
comments (852)
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There is a concern among our Arnaudville citizens about
drugs – use as well as distribution. It’s an issue that embeds itself into our
communities as drugs filter into our schools, playgrounds, neighborhoods, and
even in people’s backyards. The dealers
and users blatantly, and unashamedly, transact their business on side streets, parking lots, and bridges. Arnaudville, and other small towns have become havens for
drug users and dealers, partly due to the lack of resources, the lack of
experienced law enforcement professionals, and sometimes weak, and ineffective
leadership that turns a blind eye to the growing and often complex problem. Speaking in general terms, police corruption
can be a problem, as well. The reputation of a police department
becomes a factor that might determine for the drug user/dealer if this might be
a place where they can engage in drug activity undisturbed, safe in the
knowledge that “no one is looking” or there is no appetite for addressing the
problem, or worse – “bad cops” might be easily persuaded with favors and promises of kick-backs to undermine or
sabotage efforts to crack down on their enterprise. Citizens become frustrated as they watch, or are aware of
drug activity, but feel nothing is being done about it, or they witness a
revolving door for those guilty. Many times we see the perpetrators “walk” due
to technicalities and methods used or not used by law enforcement, including
evidence gathering, search and seizure protocol, and finally
report-writing. Any one of these snafus alone, or in a combination can cause a case to be thrown out. As the highest ranking law enforcement officer of
Arnaudville, I understand the frustration, realize there is a drug problem, and
am committed to addressing it. In our
effort to tackle the problem, multiple law enforcement agencies on a Federal,
regional, and local level must work together to organize successful drug
busts. I am aware of the rural police
departments’ limitations and restrictions, so I have been about the building of
strong relationships with St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Martin’s
Sheriff’s Office, as well as other neighboring agencies. As quickly as feasible, our officers are
receiving additional training, and as quickly as possible, I am upgrading
equipment, establishing protocols and procedures, and providing hands-on
leadership. ALL of this preliminary
activity will produce for Arnaudville in the long run, the tools necessary to
address the drug issue and all criminal elements living and operating among us. Citizens can assist by reporting drug activity they witness,
and hopefully credible and reliable information will help initiate planning and
preparation. Drug round up's take time, sometimes six-months to a year's worth
of planning if we want to get at the core – the dealer(s). It’s not a run with guns blazing kind of
operation. Our best advantages are
preparation and planning, and the element of surprise. But even with preparation the element of
danger never disappears, forcing officers to consistently bring their
"A" game. Be aware that citizens will not see the planning and preparation;
they will not become aware of the time, place and circumstance. In some cases one law enforcement agency may
not be aware of another’s activity until it is over, because confidentiality makes the element of surprise
work in our favor. Your concerns are noted.
Your concerns are also mine, and are among our priorities going forward. |
Honoring the APD officers and employees...
| Posted on May 16, 2014 at 11:28 AM |
comments (317)
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With National Police Week coming to an end, I realized
that most people didn’t know about this week set aside to pay honor to all law
enforcement who have fallen in the line of duty, and all who remain ever vigil,
protecting and serving their communities.
Our Arnaudville Police Department is part of this group of individuals
who chose to serve – not for the money -- but for the opportunity. I respect anyone who puts on the uniform and
goes out to literally put their life on the line for strangers. It is often a thank-less job. I recently came across an article that provided “tips” on
how one can demonstrate their appreciation for their police, and would like to
share it with you. 1.
Write a
letter of commendation. Send it to the
chief of police. Write about your
general appreciation of policemen and their commitment to the community. Write about a specific incident where you
observed service “above and beyond” the call of duty. 2.
Write a
letter to the editor. 3.
Wave when you
see an officer, giving him or her a friendly greeting. 4.
Speak
uplifting words of appreciation. Watch
for occasions to say thanks when it will not distract the officer from his
performance of duty. 5.
Do not permit
unjust criticism in your presence. When
someone starts to put down a police officer, speak up and turn the conversation
into a positive appreciation for all the good police men and women. 6.
Sponsor
appreciation days at your church, club or service organization. Some churches conduct special prayer services
for police officers and firemen. 7.
If you see police
or firemen eating in the same restaurant as you, pay their bill anonymously! While citizens can play a role in recognizing and
acknowledging our police, there is much that I can do as Chief to honor my officers
and employees. Beginning this month, I
will name an Employee of the Month to be announced at the Town Council meeting
each month. This public recognition will
serve to place in the minutes a permanent record of each’s honor, and send a
message to all in attendance that the APD has committed and dedicated employees
serving our community. Another way I can honor my officers is to be the kind of
leader they can rely on, the kind of man they can look up to, and the kind of
mentor who will make sure they are well trained and prepared for anything. I honor them, too when I treat them like part
of a team, and utilize their strengths, listen to their input, and respect them
as individuals. |
Turning individuals into members of a team...
| Posted on April 30, 2014 at 10:46 PM |
comments (396)
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4/29/14 Starting with the basics, I will methodically evaluate how
each employee adheres to expectations and requirements. Some of my goals include making internal
processes more efficient and more effective, reducing turnover and improving
morale. It will also include making our
police department known in the community for its professionalism on the
streets, as well as a welcoming and helpful “front desk”. Now, I know that there will be criticism from the forces
that sow the seeds of doubt and cynicism.
We will learn to focus on our steady march to checking off one goal at a
time – from wearing uniforms with pride, to achieving all the necessary
training to maintain certifications. We
will tackle one item at a time, from exercising sound logic, applying knowledge
of the law to our most mundane stops to the most complex. Change won’t always come easy, but it will
come nonetheless because that is what the citizens want, and what they deserve. At the end of the day, we will live the mission that is
articulated on the official Arnaudville Police Department facebook page: The mission of the
Arnaudville Police Department is to provide a safe, secure atmosphere, and
enhance the quality of life in the Town of Arnaudville by working cooperatively
with the Mayor, the Town Council, and the public, and within the framework of
the U.S. Constitution. Our mission is to strengthen public confidence in the
organization, develop and maintain positive relations with the community and to
promote a safe and friendly community through enforcement and education. Each employee will have decide whether they want to work as
a member of a cohesive team and promote this mission in all aspects of the
job. It is the very nature of our
profession to eat, drink, think and act as a member of a team. I look forward to working with those who say “yes”. |
Don't Be Dumb About Your Smartphone...
| Posted on April 24, 2014 at 12:09 PM |
comments (193)
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4/24/14 My wife has had three cellphones stolen in the last 3 years. Of course, she would never want anyone to know, but on the most part, these thefts could have been prevented had she heeded some of the advice below. The first phone was dropped from its case which was attached to the outside of her purse. It was in an airport. Her hands were full, she was rushing to the parking lot, and realized when she got in the car that the phone was gone. While she hoped that someone had found it and turned it in to lost and found, she had no such luck. Luckily, the phone was insured and a new phone arrived 24 hours later. The second (new replacement) was not even fully activated and was inside the purse this time as she was shopping at a Las Vegas Walmart. She reached for a product on the shelf, and the thief must have reached quickly inside the purse to lift the first thing his hand came in contact with. A couple of years later, a new cellphone still in the box, was left in the backseat of the car under some other items. The car was broken into and the GPS and cellphone were lifted. Smartphone theft is rampant. A 2012 report from the FCC indicated 40
percent of the robberies in New York City involved smartphones, and Consumer
Reports estimated 1.6 million smartphones were stolen in
2012. An estimated 140 million people in
the United States own smartphones, with that number predicted to climb to more
than 200 million by 2017. By comparison,
there are roughly 250 million cars in the United States. Your cellphone is a virtual storage cabinet for all of your
important and private information. It is
valuable enough to the thief as an object he can fence or resale, but the data
on your phone is even more valuable, and can bring an even higher price when peddled to the right party.
Smartphones regularly carry contact information for thousands of people,
photos you may not have copies of (or don’t want other people to see), bank and
credit card data, and website passwords. Worse, three of every ten smartphone users
don’t lock their phones with a passcode, so anyone who finds it has access to
whatever is stored there. Location tracking technology built into most of these phones
allows their users to locate the phone’s position remotely. Sometimes this can
be done even if the phone is not turned on. Only removing the battery will make
the phone go completely silent, and some phones, notably the iPhone, don’t have
removable batteries. In the case of the iPhone, a free “Find My Phone” app allows the user to display
the phone’s location on a map, where the phone has been recently, to lock or
erase the phone remotely, and to display a message to whoever might have it or
finds it. The app will also cause the
phone to play a sound file (roughly, “Here I am!”). Any of these actions run from another iOS
device or a web browser. An app with the
same name from the Google Play store permits almost as many
options on an Android device.
While you are attending festivals or concerts,
going on vacation, or shopping, be aware of where your phone is – is it in an
easy accessible side pocket of your purse?
Is it in your hip pocket where it is easy pickings for a thief? Did you put it down on a shelf while you were
shopping? Realizing what you may have
stored on your smartphone, ask yourself if you have taken the proper
precautions to protect yourself against theft. |
How a Focus on Ethics Can Elevate the Police Department
| Posted on April 21, 2014 at 10:36 AM |
comments (81)
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4/19/14 Some of the following
information was taken from an article authored by Marty Katz, a retired sergeant
with the Broward Sheriff’s Office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Marty is owner and chief instructor of Crimewave
Solutions, a training company for officer survival and common sense self
defense. I will be evaluating the APD with regards to training, and it
is critical that part of the training is ethics training because trust among
those we serve and protect can be established if our officers and civilian
personnel are meeting the highest ethical standards. Ethical behavior is the foundation of any professional
organization and as such, should be a recurring theme in every training
program. Ethics is the common thread that can be found at the
beginning of — and typically, throughout — almost every instance of police
officer misbehavior. When officers lower our image in the eyes
of those we protect and serve, they forget that at one time they raised their right
hand and took a solemn oath to uphold a certain set of ethics. The problem can run from the highest command level, the Chief, to the
civilians at the front desk. Each of these levels has a different
responsibility, but ethics are everyone’s concerns. When one of our own
violates their oath, everyone in this department and even in the profession
suffers. It is time to regain that which we lost. I will take the time to reinforce what we were all taught in
the academy by making ethics a top priority. While the APD has experienced scandals,
officer firings, a high officer turnover, and a negative image, I am confident
that as we go forward, these will be only memories, and no longer reality. I
am challenged to create an environment that allows good ethics to grow, and good officers to want to work here. Once
you have a positive reality, the positive perception is not far behind. I am creating an atmosphere of zero tolerance to ethical
misbehavior as well as individual ownership for one’s actions. If I succeed,
many of the problems clinging to us, as a department, should vanish. By holding
everyone to a higher ethical standard, we can reestablish trust where it has
been damaged, and reinforce trust where already we’ve proven ourselves worthy. I
am convinced that with a focus on ethics and the proper training, the community
and the police themselves will see positive change between the command and rank
and file, between officer and officer, and between officer and citizen. Mart Katz writes: “Remember this: Right is right, even if no
one else does it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone else does it.” |
Open Letter to Town of Arnaudville
| Posted on April 17, 2014 at 10:01 AM |
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4/17/14 Open letter to the town of Arnaudville: I want to thank all who supported me through their votes and
also through their words before the election and since the election. For those who did not support my run, I offer
a commitment to serve you, protect you and respect you as I will all citizens
of Arnaudville – without prejudice or bias.
My door is open, and I invite anyone with concerns, ideas, or
suggestions to come and express them to me. In that vein, my detractors have engaged in name-calling, mockery
and jeering. I’ve been called “old man”,
along with several other names that cannot be repeated in mixed company. But, my favorite and most current name is
Special Ed. And I want them to know that
no better honor could I have than to be in the company of some of my favorite
people. First, my daughter, who is deaf,
and had her share of teasing, but now teaches “special ed” students in Breaux
Bridge. She and her husband presented us
with twins last year, and our grandson, Lucas is also deaf, and will go through
years of “special ed” services. My wife
Ginger and I were instrumental in keeping a private deaf school opened for
almost 25 years in New Orleans, so we have been connected to the special
children who came through that school – deaf, autistic, and developmentally
delayed. So, for those who have bestowed
this name upon me as a way to ridicule or mock me, I say go ahead. In the days and weeks to come, Arnaudville will see
professionalism and competency rising out of the Arnaudville Police
Department. They will see response with
compassion; patrolling with more purpose
– monitoring our elderly and disabled, serving the needs of our business
community; and applying our laws even-handedly.
I will enforce zero tolerance for gossip and the leaking of confidential
information. This is a very small town, and the gossip mongers among us may not
ever be silenced, but they will have no willing partner in me, as a listener or
as a participant. I look forward to working with the Mayor and all members of
this council. I welcome each of you to share
your wisdom, your opinions and suggestions that will make the Police Department
better and our services provided more professional. You are all seasoned -- as citizens and as elected
officials, so I will be grateful for your assistance in the coming weeks, which
most of you have already offered. I close with the prayer that God be with me and with all of you as we work together to make our great little town a greater little town. Respectfully, Eddy J. LeCompte Chief of Police - Arnaudville, LA |
A New Day is Dawning...
| Posted on April 6, 2014 at 2:58 AM |
comments (176)
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4/6/14 It was a close race. Now comes the real work. Promises made and promises to keep. Leadership that will reshape our police department, restore trust and pride for our officers and citizens, and will bring an effective working relationship with the Town Council and the Mayor's Office. We celebrated quietly at home surrounded by family and close friends who believe in my abilities, trusted that I could win, and gave me the lift each and every day that I needed to cross the finish line. I appreciated the well-wishers who dropped by with the hugs and the promise of continued support. We sipped a few beers and feasted on Ginger's jambalaya and red beans and rice. Nothing fancy, over the top, or obnoxious. It is a relief to have it over, but exciting to begin the work. To all who take the time to read the ramblings of a candidate, I hope to continue with a blog, but one that will share information about what is going on in the Police Department. For so long, false information and misinformation was sent out into the community to be embellished, twisted, or purposefully used to malign or destroy. I will combat this with honesty and openness. Information going out will be controlled and filtered, truthful and presented professionally, as opposed to gossip mongering, speculation or second guessing. Monthly reports will include the positive successes we are having, not just the quantity of arrests, stops and disturbances. It is just as vital to demonstrate what a progressive and dynamic Police Department is doing. Arnaudville, a new day has dawned. |
Not the end -- only the beginning...
| Posted on April 5, 2014 at 8:05 AM |
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4/5/14 Well, today will determine where I am tomorrow. This journey has given me more friends, more memories, and more love for my community. I have had the honor and the pleasure of reconnecting with my past, and my parents' past. In that respect, I have felt that they were with me. I know that they would be proud of me, my approach to this endeavor, and my vision that would bring honor and pride to the town of Arnaudville and its citizens. At times, the odds seemed against me, but I persevered. Opening each visit with who I am, who my family is, and where I come from was key in establishing trust. Once established, I shared my love for Arnaudville, my vision for its future, and my goals as I took a front seat role in its new beginnings. As a law enforcement professional, there are many issues I will face, but the most important will be providing Arnaudville with the best protection possible. It may be a cliché', but to protect and serve will be our mission, and every move and every decision will have its foundation in that mission. Our police will also face a new day tomorrow, maybe with a new leader. While many have ridiculed them, I have concluded that the morale of the department as a whole has suffered over the past few years due to the bad press and the fractured loyalties. Without solid, professional leadership, we can see what happens -- a large turnover, lack of trust in each other, apathy towards the job, and no direction. I pity anyone working in such an environment. I would go into the job knowing that this has to be fixed if we are to provide Arnaudville the kind of protection they want and deserve. The police department is broken. It needs to heal, and this will take time, but it will be worth the wait. And if I don't have enough votes at the end of the day, I will not shrink back. I will shake it off, and let God lead me to my next "thing". I will continue to find ways that will make a positive impact on Arnaudville. If you are one who reads my blog, or who has been following my story, or who has been part of it in any way, thank you. I'm sure our paths will cross again. |
Law Enforcement Professionals Facing the Autism Tsunami
| Posted on April 3, 2014 at 11:22 AM |
comments (194)
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4/3/14 As we approach Election Day, I have to now put it in the
hands of the voters and God. I was
reminded today that if it is meant to be, God will allow it to happen. So, today’s blog is not about elections,
campaigns or politics. Today I have turned over my blog to Ginger, as we honor and
recognize this month as Autism Awareness Month.
In New Orleans, she was the Executive Director of a program for the deaf
and children with communicative disorders.
Her connection to children with Autism, and Autism Spectrum Disorder
(ASD) runs deep. Our daughter, Emily
teaches a self-contained special education class with several autistic
children. Ginger writes: Today, 1 out of 68 children will be born with ASD. These numbers are astounding. In a decade
this number has gone from 1 in 250, to just five years ago 1 in 150. While we can address the educational options, behavioral
strategies, and teaching methods for children with ASD, we should also be
acutely aware that if these numbers are correct, there is an ever-growing
number of young adults and adults entering all aspects of our society with ASD –
the workforce, the communities, businesses, etc. Since Ed’s blog has always integrated law enforcement into
its discussion, I thought it appropriate to do the same. I will refer to an Autism Tsunami facing today’s police forces, and just as there is a
need for police to be aware of and know about specific ADA laws (Americans With
Disabilities Act) and the rights of this specific “class” of citizenry, they
need special training when it comes to ASD. There is a massive increase of young adults with autism; a
statistical wave created by what appears to be a perfect storm scenario of
concurrent contributing factors, including increased diagnoses, increased
incidence of autism, over-taxed and drying up community resources and a
maturing front-line demographic of individuals with autism The average age of
these autism-boomers at somewhere between 17 and 19 years of age. Consider this: the Center for Disease Control estimates 1 in
68 births currently are on the autism spectrum and possibly still rising. 3 out
of 4 are male. Half are nonverbal or profoundly verbally limited. They are
seven times more likely to encounter the police and at least three times more
likely to be victims of violent and/or sexual crimes. 4 out of 5 police calls
will involve unusual or dangerous, not criminal, behaviors that will often be
difficult to manage or interpret. Two out of 5 will be prone to seizures, and a
good deal of them will be hypotonic (low-muscle-tone), making them prone to
positional asphyxia and musculoskeletal injuries. To top it all off, many of
them will appear to be oblivious to pain, while others will shrink, as if in
pain (perhaps real pain), to your slightest touch. Police officers have been trained to use a certain police
presence and dialog as intervention options. Body posture, tone of voice, eye
contact, and interrogative language serves them well with most contacts. All of
these are a form of nonverbal communication. It’s what they rely on initially
to get their message across and control a contact. When dealing with subjects
with ASD, traditional officer presence may not work. In fact, it may even backfire. A recent report was issued written by Joel Lashley, who is
the father of a son with autism and has more than 20 years experience managing
challenging behaviors in the clinical setting.
The report was a collaboration with Lashley (Children’s Hospital of
Wisconsin), Emily Levine (Executive Director of the Autism Society of
Southeastern Wisconsin), Sheriff David A. Clarke, Jr. (Milwaukee County
Sheriff’s Office), Mike Thiel, CPP (Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Director
of Security), Edward A. Flynn (Chief of Police Milwaukee Police Department),
Dr. George Thompson (President of the Verbal Judo Institute), and scores of
national professionals. Citing information in this report, “Children, youth, and
adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are as varied in their interests,
personalities, character, temperaments, and communication styles as anyone
else. It is therefore generally not a good idea to stereotype people with ASD.
In reality, no two persons behave exactly alike, but what we know about people
with ASD is that they tend to display unusual repetitive behaviors and have
difficulty with socialization and communication.” People with autism and other cognitive or developmental
disabilities are less likely to commit a crime than others, but they are more
likely than ever before to: • Live independently without support • Be out in public alone, without family or care providers • Work, attend school, use public transportation, and even
drive • Have their access to public places and other freedoms
challenged • Have a medical emergency • Be harassed and otherwise bullied • Be a victim of sexual assault and other serious crimes • Attract the attention of the police According to the report, people with ASD often won’t
understand what others want or need from them — worse, they may not understand
that their words or actions can negatively impact others (or themselves).
Difficulty with natural social concepts and values is usually what gets them
into trouble with others, including the police, the report states. I would like to conclude by pointing out that more and more
police forces are seeking training, and there are several very reliable
trainers and resources for them. Here
are a few suggestions that are included in some of the training that is
available. Once you've encountered a
subject who you think might have a cognitive impairment, here are a few principles
to help you out.
The good news is, cops are very good at sizing up these
situations. Give them the tools and they’ll know what to do with them! If the
pros can provide police, corrections, and healthcare security officers with the
necessary tools to recognize and communicate with subjects likely to have ASD,
then the situation will have a fighting chance to resolve peacefully. |
Training + Maturity + Good Judgement = Survival
| Posted on March 31, 2014 at 7:40 PM |
comments (192)
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3/31/14 Had a wonderful weekend, ending in a BBQ with family and friends. I have continued to visit and talk with the town people and had meetings with supporters. The encouragement has helped me sleep. For a couple of nights, this was a problem. As I contemplate the possibility of a win, I have sketched out in my mind what priorities I will focus on. I believe in my gut that we have some good officers -- good officers can become better with continuous training. With any Chief, training should be routine. But, the training without proper equipment can only go so far. So, with my ability to research and write grants, partner and collaborate with area agencies, I am confident that workable, reliable equipment will be forth coming if I am elected. I read about a 22 year old police officer in North Carolina was shot in the face on Friday night, and died. He was making a stop to question someone who was acting suspiciously. He had only 7 months on the job. Could this tragedy have been avoided? I don't know, but I know one thing -- young, inexperienced police officers are the most likely to be killed or injured in the line of duty. They are often vulnerable because of the combination of immaturity, inexperience, the bravado they possess from being young and "bad-ass" that sometimes makes them feel invincible. Physical training and fitness is no good if you don't have the ability or capacity of sound judgement and strategic thinking -- mostly born out of years of experience and maturity. |
