Detective Gets It Wrong - June 13, 2024
- 7 days ago
On the evening of June 13th, 2024, sheriff's deputies in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana were dispatched to the Caldwell/LaSalle Parish line to assist LaSalle deputies and an Olla Police officer. The officer had engaged in a brief pursuit with a speeding vehicle that was displaying hazard flashers, and the pursuit stopped just inside Caldwell Parish.
A high-ranking Caldwell detective asked the dispatcher to call LaSalle's dispatcher (by phone) and find out if they had a foot pursuit or needed immediate assistance. Apparently the dispatcher didn't call fast enough because the detective switched his radio to LaSalle's channel and asked them directly. The officer advised that they were code-4 and that the person was responding to an emergency in Monroe. Almost immediately after that, the Caldwell dispatcher advised responding deputies that LaSalle's deputies were code-4, but left off the part about the emergency in Monroe. At that point the detective advised "I think it's somebody with a warrant."
Now, I'm no high-ranking detective with almost 40 years law enfarcement experience, but I know there's a big difference between "emergency" and "warrant." Those two words don't even sound similar. One would think that if he had misheard or misunderstood, he would've asked for confirmation or a repeat. To get something wrong that was that obvious, calls into question his credibility and competency in other matters. Other situations, other investigations, other criminal cases, and the power he holds over the freedom and lives of other people.
To his credit, he did have the presence of mind to switch his radio to the other agency's channel and talk to them directly. Interoperability between agencies was designed into the statewide P25 radio system following the devastating hurricane Katrina and the communications breakdown that came with it, yet many cops in at least the northern half of the state seem to have no idea that they can talk directly to other agencies without having to get dispatchers and telephones involved.
At the end of this situation, Olla PD let the person go before the Caldwell Parish deputies could get there. That, my friends, is a VERY good thing considering recent use-of-force incidents involving these deputies.
A high-ranking Caldwell detective asked the dispatcher to call LaSalle's dispatcher (by phone) and find out if they had a foot pursuit or needed immediate assistance. Apparently the dispatcher didn't call fast enough because the detective switched his radio to LaSalle's channel and asked them directly. The officer advised that they were code-4 and that the person was responding to an emergency in Monroe. Almost immediately after that, the Caldwell dispatcher advised responding deputies that LaSalle's deputies were code-4, but left off the part about the emergency in Monroe. At that point the detective advised "I think it's somebody with a warrant."
Now, I'm no high-ranking detective with almost 40 years law enfarcement experience, but I know there's a big difference between "emergency" and "warrant." Those two words don't even sound similar. One would think that if he had misheard or misunderstood, he would've asked for confirmation or a repeat. To get something wrong that was that obvious, calls into question his credibility and competency in other matters. Other situations, other investigations, other criminal cases, and the power he holds over the freedom and lives of other people.
To his credit, he did have the presence of mind to switch his radio to the other agency's channel and talk to them directly. Interoperability between agencies was designed into the statewide P25 radio system following the devastating hurricane Katrina and the communications breakdown that came with it, yet many cops in at least the northern half of the state seem to have no idea that they can talk directly to other agencies without having to get dispatchers and telephones involved.
At the end of this situation, Olla PD let the person go before the Caldwell Parish deputies could get there. That, my friends, is a VERY good thing considering recent use-of-force incidents involving these deputies.