Two months after a hostage negotiator died, reportedly by friendly fire, the Boulet administration engaged a national firm to assess Lafayette Police Department’s SWAT team tactics and protocols.
Announced this week, the collaboration with the National Tactical Officers Association will review LPD’s SWAT manual, training and mission planning.
“Since January, we have responded to numerous mutual-aid requests and are often looked to by other agencies for leadership in critical situations, all of which reinforces our need for an in-depth review of our current practices across the board,” Mayor-President Monique Boulet said in a Monday press release.
Senior Corporal Segus Jolivette died in Jeanerette while dispatched with LPD’s SWAT team to support marshals attempting a serve a warrant to an armed man who had barricaded himself and taken hostages. Through mutual aid agreements with nearby agencies, Lafayette frequently deploys its SWAT team outside of Lafayette.