A southwest Louisiana city has a new police chief after the previous one resigned.
Lafayette Parish Mayor Monique Brett announced Tuesday that Lt. Paul Trouard will serve as interim chief of the Lafayette Police Department pending a nationwide recruitment search for the permanent position, The Advocate reported.
Truard, 50, spent his entire 27-year police career with the Lafayette Police Department and was recently appointed deputy chief to replace former Police Chief Judith Estorgi, who resigned earlier this month for personal reasons. Estorgi, who was appointed in October 2022, was the city’s first female police chief. She plans to remain with the department.
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“I’m honored,” Truard said of his appointment. “It’s been a long journey and I just want to move the department forward.”
Truard spent about four years on patrol, then spent about six years training new officers and other officers in the field. He also worked as a financial crimes detective before transferring to the police department’s violent crimes and homicide unit, where he was a supervisory sergeant and manager. He eventually became a police inspector and was named deputy chief in April.
Lafayette saw its deadliest year on record in 2023, with police investigating a record 29 homicides.
An interim police chief has been selected for Lafayette, Louisiana. (Fox News)
Asked how he plans to address the rise in violent crime, Truado said he would push for more targeted policing, a tactic he routinely used when he oversaw the city’s northwest precinct. He also said he plans to look at the police department’s reporting system, talk to front-line officers and use data analytics to track what crimes are happening, when and where, to determine what resources to deploy.
“We hit the area and try to target different areas, different types of crime to reduce violent crime,” Trouard said. “It’s been very effective and I would like to ramp this up and do more of it. Of course, we have a limited budget. With that being said, what is more important? Reducing crime? Or the current budget?”
Additionally, Truard said there would be increased communication within the agency and within the local community to better understand their needs and requests to the agency.
Meanwhile, Boulet said on Tuesday that the selection of qualified candidates will begin nationwide within the next 30 days.
Trouard said he plans to be one of the candidates seeking the permanent council position.
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“I think it would be easier for me to fill the role,” Truard said. “I’m not saying I’m the best person for the position. You never know what’s going to happen in the future. I told management that if I’m not the exact right person for the role, don’t hire me. I’m willing to work in whatever capacity you want.”
