Law enforcement officials from across South Louisiana were in Crowley Tuesday and Wednesday for the third annual Acadiana Law Enforcement Conference, hosted this year by the Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce.
Attendance at this year’s event was so high that the Tuesday night session, originally planned to be held in the City Court Room had to be moved to stage area of The Grand Opera House.
The conference once again featured Judges Harmon and Jean Drew, who gave updates on their annual True Blue Drew Book, which has been cited statewide as “the practical handbook for Louisiana law enforcement.”
Amy Thibodeaux, president and CEO of the Acadia Chamber, said she is very pleased with the turnout for this year’s conference.
“A safe community for our residents and businesses is a priority for our chamber,” Thibodeaux said. “Hosting the Acadiana Law Enforcement Conference is one way we are able to promote a thriving business community through supporting the continuing education of our local Law Enforcement Agencies. Each officer earned CEU credits for attending and learned of recent changes in laws over the past year.
“Over 250 officers from all corners of Acadiana were in attendance over the two-day period, which for us, is a huge success,” she continued. “The fact that we could impact the education of so many officers in a short period of time was incredible.”
In addition to the Drews, other speakers for the event included:
• Duson Police Chief Kip Judice, who spoke on effective report writing, something that was stressed throughout the seminars;
• District Attorney Keith Stutes, who spoke on “Brady material” — named after Brady v. Maryland, the 1963 case that resulted in the legal mandate that prosecutors disclose materially exculpatory evidence in the government’s possession to the defense;
• Assistant District Attorney Scott Privat, who spoke on matters involving domestic abuse battery and civil and criminal restraining orders; and
• Assistant District Attorney Burliegh Doga, who addressed a phlethora of general topics important to law enforcement.
