# Baton Rouge Police Department

The Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD) (French: Département de Police de Bâton Rouge) is the primary law enforcement agency in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Baton Rouge is the second most populous city in Louisiana and is the parish seat of East Baton Rouge Parish which is the most populous parish in the state.
Numerous local law enforcement agencies have jurisdiction that is partially or wholly within the city limits of Baton Rouge. Among them are the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, Baton Rouge City Constable's Office, and Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport Police.
Three universities, Louisiana State University (LSU), Southern University (SU), and Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC), each have campus police departments within the city limits.

## History

The first council meeting of Baton Rouge was held on April 13, 1818, during which five officials, referred to as selectmen, were seated. Among them was Pierre Gentin, identified as a police officer. At this meeting, four ordinances were passed, including one that established penalties for "all disorderly and drunken persons." For the time period from July 30, 1818 to May 11, 1819, Pierre Gentin, Charles Everard, and A. York received a salary from the Corporation of the Town of Baton Rouge for their roles as police officers.
Between 1817 and 1859, law enforcement in Baton Rouge was overseen by a town constable, an elected official responsible for maintaining order. The town constable was supported by an assistant and later by the city marshal.
During the Civil War, after Union army forces captured Baton Rouge, local law enforcement was temporarily replaced by a force appointed by James Shedden Palmer, commander of the USS Iroquois. This arrangement remained in place until Louisiana was readmitted to the Union in 1865.
In 1866, E. M. Brooks was appointed Chief of Police by the Baton Rouge City Board of Selectmen, becoming the city's second Chief of Police. The first Chief of Police, Joseph Sanchez, resigned after being appointed an officer in the state penitentiary. The same year, Chief E. M. Brooks designed the first badge to be worn by each officer.
Officers were not provided uniforms and were required to supply their own horses and clothing. Officers were responsible for covering these expenses from their annual salary. By 1879, police officers were paid $500 per year, contingent on their ability to furnish and maintain a horse.

## Training
### Basic Training Academy

The Baton Rouge Police Training Academy was established in 1954 following a proposal from Police Chief E.S. Arrighi to provide standardized instruction for officers. Prior to the academy's creation, BRPD officers received training from Louisiana State University (LSU). The department later created its own academy to provide agency-specific training.
The academy is a 22-week program that prepares recruits for law enforcement duties. The curriculum includes classroom instruction, scenario-based training, and practical exercises.

### Training requirements

* The Louisiana Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council mandates a minimum of 496 training hours for Level 1 Basic Law Enforcement Peace Officers.
* BRPD provides approximately 880 hours of training during the academy.

### Training topics

Recruits receive instruction in multiple subjects throughout the academy. The following are examples of courses included in training:
* Legal studies – Louisiana criminal law, search and seizure, courtroom procedures
* Patrol operations – Traffic stops, crime prevention, civil disturbance response
* Tactical training – Special Response Team (SWAT) operations, active shooter response, building searches
* Medical training – First aid, CPR, Narcan administration, Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC)
* Defensive tactics – Arrest techniques, use of force, baton handling
* Firearms training – Marksmanship, tactical shooting, weapon retention
* Community policing and de-escalation – Crisis intervention, procedural justice, verbal communication skills

### Field training program

Following graduation from the academy, new officers enter a field training program lasting a minimum of 16 weeks. During this period, they work under the supervision of Field Training Officers (FTOs) and receive on-the-job training in various law enforcement functions.
By the time officers complete field training, they will have spent approximately one year in training from their date of hire before being cleared for full duty.

## Rank structure

| Rank | Insignia |
| Chief | |
| Deputy Chief of Police | |
| Captain | |
| Lieutenant | |
| Sergeant | |
| Corporal | |
| Police Officer First Class | No Insignia |
| Police Officer | No Insignia |
| Trainee | No Insignia |
The Chief of Police is appointed by, and reports to, the Mayor-President. The Chief is assisted by four Deputy Chiefs who are appointed by The Chief of Police. All other police positions are promotional and based on seniority, as mandated by state civil service law.

## Baton Rouge Chiefs of Police

| Name | Began Term | Ended Term | Mayor of Baton Rouge |
| Joseph Sanchez | 1865 | 12 Feb 1866 | Jordan Holt |
| Eri Morley Brooks Sr. | 12 Feb 1866 | 1874 | Jordan Holt |
| Oscar Heady Foreman | 1874 | 1 Apr 1877 | O. P. Skolfield |
| Robert Wiseman | 1 Apr 1877 | 23 Sep 1878 | James E. Elam |
| Thomas Benton Hillen | 1878 | 4 Apr 1887 | James E. Elam |
| Joshua Baker Hare | 4 Apr 1887 | 15 Nov 1911 | Leon Jastremski |
| Phillip Patrick Huyck | 15 Nov 1911 | 23 Apr 1914 | |
| King H. Strenzke | 23 Apr 1914 | 23 Jan 1939 | |
| Joseph W. Bates | 23 Jan 1939 | 21 Jul 1939 | |
| Wilbur D. Atkins | 22 Jul 1939 | 2 Jan 1941 | |
| Perry M. Johnson | 2 Jan 1941 | 31 May 1944 | |
| Fred C. Parker Jr. | 31 May 1944 | 31 Dec 1952 | |
| Joseph H. Green | 1 Jan 1953 | 12 Apr 1954 | |
| Shirley S. Arrighi | 12 Apr 1954 | 1 Mar 1961 | |
| Arthur A. Altazin | 1 Mar 1961 | 7 Mar 1961 | |
| Wingate Moore White | 7 Mar 1961 | 30 Sep 1964 | |
| Eddie O. Bauer Jr. | 1 Oct 1964 | 1 Jan 1965 | |
| David Keyser | 1 Jan 1965 | 15 Feb 1968 | |
| Eddie O. Bauer Jr. | 15 Feb 1968 | 5 Feb 1973 | |
| Rudolph Ratcliff | 5 Feb 1973 | 29 Apr 1974 | |
| Howard Kidder | 29 Apr 1974 | 3 Feb 1975 | |
| Williard R. Ashford Jr. | 3 Feb 1975 | 22 Sep 1975 | |
| Howard Kidder | 22 Sep 1975 | 1 Jul 1979 | |
| George Johnston | 1 Jul 1979 | 2 Jan 1981 | |
| Pat Bonanno | 2 Jan 1981 | 22 Jul 1985 | |
| Wayne Rogillio | 22 Jul 1985 | 16 Dec 1991 | |
| Greg Phares | 16 Dec 1991 | 18 Jan 2001 | |
| Pat Englade | 18 Jan 2001 | 24 Feb 2005 | |
| Jeff LeDuff | 24 Feb 2005 | 4 Nov 2010 | |
| Charles Mondrick | 4 Nov 2010 | 31 May 2011 | |
| Dewayne White | 31 May 2011 | 6 Feb 2013 | |
| Carl Dabadie Jr. | 6 Feb 2013 | 8 Mar 2018 | Sharon Weston Broome Sid Edwards |
| Murphy J. Paul Jr. | 8 Mar 2018 | 21 Dec 2023 | Sharon Weston Broome Sid Edwards |
| Thomas S. Morse Jr. | 16 Jan 2024 | Present | Sharon Weston Broome Sid Edwards |

## Line of duty deaths

| Name | Rank | End of Watch | Cause |
| J. B. Hare | Chief of Police | 16 Nov 1911 | Gunfire |
| Joseph Mareno | Police Officer | 18 Sep 1923 | Gunfire |
| Frank Schoonmaker | Chief of Detectives | 24 Oct 1931 | Gunfire |
| George Bannister | Lieutenant | 3 Mar 1966 | Gunfire |
| Joseph Sanchez | Sergeant | 6 Jun 1966 | Gunfire |
| J. D. Blackwell | Police Officer | 4 Feb 1968 | Vehicular assault |
| Thomas Fancher | Police Officer | 10 Sep 1968 | Motorcycle crash |
| Dennis Heap | Police Officer | 1 Jun 1972 | Motorcycle crash |
| Karl Bourgoyne | Police Officer | 14 Jul 1977 | Motorcycle crash |
| Linda Lawrence | Police Officer | 1 Aug 1977 | Gunfire |
| Carl D'Abadie Sr. | Lieutenant | 6 Apr 1984 | Motorcycle crash |
| Charles Stegall | Police Officer | 14 Jun 1988 | Vehicular assault |
| Warren Broussard | Sergeant | 21 Jun 1988 | Gunfire |
| Betty Smothers | Corporal | 7 Jan 1993 | Gunfire |
| Vickie Wax | Lieutenant | 22 May 2004 | Gunfire |
| Terry Melancon Jr. | Police Officer | 10 Aug 2005 | Gunfire |
| Christopher Metternich | Corporal | 14 Aug 2006 | Vehicular assault |
| Mark Beck | Police Officer | 25 Feb 2008 | Motor vehicle crash |
| Matthew Gerald | Police Officer | 17 Jul 2016 | Gunfire |
| Montrell Jackson | Corporal | 17 Jul 2016 | Gunfire |
| Shane Totty | Corporal | 1 Feb 2019 | Motorcycle crash |
| Glenn Hutto Jr. | Lieutenant | 26 Apr 2020 | Gunfire |
| Charles Dotson | Sergeant | 24 Jan 2021 | COVID-19 |
| Michael Godawa | Lieutenant | 1 Aug 2021 | COVID-19 |
| Scotty Canezaro | Corporal | 26 Mar 2023 | Aircraft accident |
| David Poirrier | Sergeant | 26 Mar 2023 | Aircraft accident |

## Lawsuits

In 2016, two BRPD officers shot and killed Alton Sterling a 37-year-old black man, while trying to detain him. The police killing lead to protests and demonstrations in Baton Rouge and elsewhere, leading to the arrests of hundreds of individuals. Due to the violence and arrests that erupted at these protests, local organizing groups and the Louisiana branch of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the Baton Route Police Department for violating the First Amendment rights of protesting individuals. Less than two weeks after the killing of Alton Sterling, three BRPD officers were shot and killed by Gavin Eugene Long in a shootout.
In April 2023, Baton Rouge paid $55,000 to settle a place brutality lawsuit involving BRPD officer Troy Lawrence, Jr., the son of Deputy Chief Troy Lawrence, Sr. Lawrence Jr. was also involved in two other lawsuits that Baton Rouge settled for $86,000 and $35,000, respectively, with the latter case involving a child who had his underwear searched in public. Lawrence, Jr. later resigned in August 2023.
In February 2024, a federal lawsuit was filed by Lakeisha Varnado and Tredonovan Raby, alleging that the BRPD violated their constitutional rights after BRPD officer Joseph Carboni strip-searched and sexually assaulted their 11-year-old son following a raid on their home in 2023. The family additionally alleged Varnado herself was strip- and body-cavity-searched, and that one of her other children was put into a holding cell and beaten so hard that he was knocked out by BRPD officer Lorenzo Coleman. The incidents are alleged to have taken place at the so-called "BRAVE Cave," an interrogation facility attached to a police substation informally named after the BRPD Street Crimes Unit, and which rose to national attention following separate lawsuits filed by Jeremy Lee and Ternell Brown alleging abuse by BRPD officers at the facility. The FBI subsequently opened a civil rights investigation into the facility, and as of October 2024, 10 separate lawsuits involving the "BRAVE Cave" have been filed.