An external agency will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Lafayette Police Department's Special Weapons and Tactics team after one of its officers was killed in the line of duty in July.
Lafayette Mayor-President Monique Boulet called for the assessment, which will be done by the National Tactical Officers Association at a cost of about $20,000.
"We went out and found the best SWAT trainers in the country," Boulet said. "And we want to look at our processes."
The project comes on the heels of the death of Senior Cpl. Segus Jolivette, a hostage negotiator and SWAT team member with Lafayette Police who was killed July 25 during a hostage situation in Jeanerette.
A media report last month suggested that Jolivette died after he was struck by another SWAT officer's bullet, but official sources have not confirmed that. Groups have urged Boulet and the Lafayette Police Department to release body camera footage of the hostage situation that killed Jolivette and injured three other officers.
When asked this week about whether Jolivette was killed by friendly fire, Boulet and interim Lafayette Police Chief Paul Trouard said detectives with Louisiana State Police are working to determine that. The agency is not releasing information as the investigation is ongoing, spokesperson Peggy Bourque said.
Nyjal Hurst, the suspect in the July 25 standoff, has not been charged in connection with Jolivette's death.
Boulet said she has not seen bodycam footage but has requested it. Trouard said his agency is working to schedule a time for the mayor-president to review the footage, but it will not be released to the media or the public because of the ongoing investigation.
This project hits close to home for Boulet, whose brother, Ben Blanco, died 27 years ago after a construction crane incident involving a faulty safety latch.
"They never fixed the safety latches on the cranes afterward," Boulet said. "And it struck me. You can't go through something like this and not get better and not improve."
Although it might be impossible to never lose another officer in the line of duty, Boulet said she hopes to never again lose another officer by the same mistake.
The comprehensive assessment of Lafayette Police's SWAT operations will determine whether critical incident policies and tactical procedures are aligned with present-day practices and standards.
It will include a comprehensive review of its operations manual and agency policies related to the use of SWAT, an examination of training procedures and mission planning and a detailed analysis of after-action reporting and tactical operations.
It may also include a review of the Jeanerette hostage incident that killed Jolivette.
Don Kester, chief operating officer for the National Tactical Officers Association, said similar assessments at other agencies have included recommendations to improve record keeping, policies and procedures and have identified new programs to implement, equipment worth investing in and training opportunities for staff.
Kester's organization, founded in 1983, aims to enhance the performance and professional status of law enforcement personnel.
"It's not designed or intended to be a negative thing by any means at all," Kester said. "It's finding out what we're doing, what we're doing well and what we can do better."
The project, set to begin in a week or two, is expected to take four to five months to complete. Three people with the association will be working on the assessment, which will also include interviews and site visits.
Trouard called the project a crucial moment for his agency.
"It's basically a custom, third-party, objective assessment to enhance our tactical capabilities," Trouard said. "That's what I'm looking for. Whether they can make us 1% better or 100% better, it's a win-win for us."
The Lafayette Police's SWAT team includes about 25 tactical operators and 15 negotiators. It is often called upon by other agencies in critical situations outside of the parish and has responded to several mutual-aid requests since January, when Boulet took office.
Boulet said the upcoming assessment will be a chance to improve, learn and grow stronger.
"Our police department's been through a lot in the last five years — a lot of leadership changes, a lot of instability," Boulet said. "How do we make decisions to stabilize, to build them up, to make them the best police department?"
Trouard said the SWAT team is welcoming the external evaluation.
"I think there's even an air of excitement. We've never had this opportunity before," Trouard said. "NTOA goes all throughout the country, assessing teams and giving classes, so they have a base of knowledge nobody else has. And to be able to bring them in to ensure we're properly equipped, properly staffed, properly trained to handle any situation we face, I'm excited about that."