LAFAYETTE, La. (KADN) — In his first week on the job, Lafayette’s new interim police chief, Paul Trouard, has already implemented changes to the Lafayette Police Department.
“It’s been busy, but I’ve been adjusting well,” said Chief Trouard in an exclusive interview with News 15. “Right now, our biggest issues are manpower and dealing with violent crime.”
Citing staff shortages, LPD recently disbanded its “Cares Unit,” a specialized unit that featured officers trained to properly respond to calls with those who suffer from mental health issues. News 15 has learned the Cares Unit will not be returning in its previous form.
“The whole department will be a ‘Cares Unit.’” Instead of just having two people do the job, the entire department will do the job,” explained Trouard.
He added there are two in-house instructors who are certified in crisis intervention. Those officers will begin training fellow officers this summer. The goal is to have 60 officers trained in crisis intervention by the end of the year, and the entire department trained by the end of 2025.
“Nowadays, you get more people with mental health issues and we need to know how to deal with that better,” added Trouard.
The department is also taking part in dozens of recruiting events over the coming months to help fill 30 commissioned officer positions.
“We’re looking for the best of the best. Patrols will be much better supported. We’ll have more officers out on the streets to do the job, to start doing proactive patrol instead of reactive patrol,” he noted.
Lafayette had a record-setting year for murders in 2023. In the city alone, 29 homicides were investigated. Chief Trouard said he’s approaching the issue at the precinct level.
“You use your reporting system, computer aided dispatch, data analytics. You talk to your front line officers and see what’s going on in your precinct, and you move your resources in to deal with that,” he explained.
In July, a new law will take effect in Louisiana to allow for concealed carry without a permit. Some opponents of the new law have argued it could make gun violence worse in the state.
“We don’t know which way it’s going to go,” said Chief Trouard, who confirmed officers are undergoing training before the permitless concealed carry law goes into effect on July 4.
“We’re introducing them to the law. Obviously, in the past, if you saw someone that you thought was carrying a gun or they were flashing a gun under their shirt, you could stop them and check to see if they had a permit. So, that no longer applies. So, does it make it more difficult? I don’t know. It’s kind of subjective, but we are training them how to deal with people in the public who could be carrying concealed,” he added.
Trouard is the seventh person to lead LPD since 2020. While LCG conducts a nationwide search for a permanent chief, Trouard said he plans to apply for the job.
“I’ve told the mayor several times in our conversations that if I'm what she’s looking for, then put me in the position. If not, that’s fine. I'll stay at the police department in any capacity she chooses,” he said.
