10 officers serve Cottonport’s needs

Avoyelles’ “Blue Line”

 

{Editor’s Note: In an effort to improve community understanding of their police departments, this newspaper will be printing a series of articles on each of the law enforcement agencies in the parish. The series is called, “Avoyelles ‘Blue Line,’” a reference to the “thin blue line”  symbol used by law enforcement to commemorate fallen officers and the relationship between police and the communities they serve.
These articles will look at the men and women who work in the offices, as well as the routine and special tasks the department does to serve the public. We hope readers appreciate these insights and gain a better understanding and appreciation of these public servants.}
 
  Providing police services to the Town of Cottonport requires a budget of about $300,000 and a staff of six full-time and four part-time officers, Police Chief Earnest Anderson said.
   The department has six patrol cars, including three new units added this year. The town’s full-time police officers include Anderson, Assistant Chief Justin Chenevert, Steven Gauthier, Lecorrian Washington, Lataya Rideau and Travis Goudeau. The part-time officers are Jennifer Chenevert, Alton Daily, Ananise Robertson and Thomas Heptinstall. 
  “The town has limited resources, so our police force is small,” Anderson said. “We make an effort to be visible in the community and help the residents when they need assistance. 
  “We want the officers to talk and interact with the residents because it makes for better policing,”  he added. 
  All full-time officers must attend a police academy and be certified in the use of weapons under Louisiana guidelines. The town pays for officers to attend the academy in exchange for the new officers working at least two years in the department.
   While patrolling the streets of Cottonport is the most important duty, officers also have several community projects throughout the year. The most important of those is to ensure children are safe at Cottonport Elementary and St. Mary’s Elementary as they arrive and leave each school day. Officers also make regular patrols at the schools during the day to ensure the school is safe.
   The annual Cottonport Christmas Festival is another major event requiring police efforts. Officers help with crowd control and safety for the parade and other events surrounding the festival. 
    The Egg Knocking event at Easter and the Family Day at Sarah Williams Park in the fall also require special attention from the police force.
   CPD officers routinely check on elderly residents to make sure they are safe and not in need of medical attention. This is especially important during winter and summer months.
    The police department, with assistance from the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office, recently began a Neighborhood Watch Program in town.
   Under Anderson, Cottonport Police initiated a safe Halloween program, in which  children can trick-or-treat at the town’s community center. Not only does it ensure the treats are safe, it keeps young ones off the streets and thus avoiding possible accidents. 
   It also gives Cottonport's youngest citizens an opportunity to interact with their policemen in a friendly, enjoyable setting.