Less Than Lethal and De-escalation Training Center

This funding opportunity would allow Louisiana State Police (LSP) to continue growth in the area of de-escalation training and less-than-lethal initiatives. With the program foundation already established through the FY22 BJA funding, it is now positioned the further expand its approach and impact.

This program intends to take a multi-faceted approach by expanding the virtual reality based training, furthering emotional intelligence training, including officer whole-wellness initiatives, and providing principle-based defensive de-escalation tactics.

The Joint Emergency Services Training Center (JESTC) in Zachary, Louisiana is an LSP property, which is currently supporting the primary location for this program. It will also be an ideal location to conduct principle-based police jiu-jitsu training. This program is the only principle-based defensive de-escalation training designed specifically for police.

The addition of FY23 BJA funds will allow the virtual reality-based training to expand its impact to LSP personnel across the state. In all, nine (9) additional locations will each house a 2-person virtual reality (VR) training system and the personnel to facilitate the training. By implementing satellite locations, LSP will be positioned to further expand the program to local agencies across the state and neighboring states in the future.

Originally, twenty (20) officers were trained as facilitators in basic EQ as part of the funding opportunity of BJA FY22. The goal for continued growth of this invaluable emotional intelligence training is to train all of the original 20 officers in advanced EQ, as well as an additional ten (10) officers in both basic and advanced EQ.

The proposal also highlights the importance of mental health checkups for commissioned personnel and key civilians engaging in real-time trauma scenarios. These available checkups will provide an opportunity for employees to discuss issues, personal or professional, with licensed mental health professionals vetted through Troopers and Employees Assistance Program (TEAP).