Deputy Chief Harrison and Lt. Kendrick of the Minden Police Department offered an update on recent department activities, events, and initiatives.
The department has been actively engaged in various events, including the National Night Out block parties as well as the Witches Ride of Minden parade and a scheduled power outage later that night. These events unfolded smoothly, even though some officers endured long hours. As Lt. Kendrick noted, “Most of us worked 18 hours that day.”
Deputy Chief Harrison expressed optimism about the National Night Out event but also expressed hope for increased participation in the future. Plans for a large block party on city property are under consideration to foster community engagement and discuss crime prevention. “We’d like to make it like a festival type thing for the whole city.,” said Harrison.
The Special Response Team (SRT) has continued training, including pistol tactics training through 9 and 1 Tactical and night-time firing exercises.
The Minden Police Department recently acquired new body cameras from Axon, which come with accompanying laptops.
“We have brand new body cameras for every officer with access to Evidence.com,” said Lt. Kendrick. “This will allow officers to be out in the field more.”
These technological upgrades enable streamlined reporting through Evidence.com, facilitating more efficient data transmission to the D.A.’s office and reducing paperwork. The department’s shift to online, Cloud-based records management software allows officers to complete tasks such as report writing, warrant checks, and tag inspections from their vehicles, enhancing field efficiency.
The police department has taken animal control under its umbrella of operations and is exploring the acquisition of dart guns to safely handle wild or aggressive animals, minimizing risks to officers.
A major focus this year has been to train officers as instructors in various law enforcement domains, enabling in-house training and collaboration with other agencies. Lt. Kendrick highlighted the successful introduction of training courses such as a less-lethal shotgun class, taser recertification, and field sobriety refreshers, all taught by in-house instructors.
Four Minden Police Officers have recently received FAA certification as drone operators through the Bossier Sheriff’s Office. This certification enhances the department’s capabilities for special events and investigative purposes.
The Safety Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) has contributed to improved highway safety by conducting over 800 stops on the interstate in the last 30 days, resulting in reduced accidents. “People are slowing down, and our accidents are down since we’ve started this,” said Kendrick.
The Drug Apprehension Response Team (DART) remains active in patrolling at night and on weekends.
The Minden Police Department continues to evolve, adapt, and enhance its capabilities to ensure the safety and well-being of the community.