§326.1. Authority of Lafourche Basin Levee District police officer; contracts with sheriffs' offices

A. Those persons who are designated Lafourche Basin Levee District police officers in accordance with this Section are responsible for maintaining order and exercising general police power on the levees within the area of the Lafourche Basin Levee District and upon its surrounding waters in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated for that purpose by the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections or his designee. Each such person nominated as a police officer by the president of the Lafourche Basin Levee District shall, upon meeting the requirements of this Section, be commissioned as a peace officer by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Such commission shall remain in force and effect at the pleasure of the president of the Lafourche Basin Levee District and the Department of Public Safety and Corrections subject to applicable civil service regulations. These police officers shall have the right to carry concealed weapons and to exercise the power of arrest as peace officers, according to law, within the area of their jurisdiction as provided herein. Each such police officer shall execute a bond in the amount of three hundred thousand dollars in favor of the State of Louisiana for the faithful performance of his duties. The premium on the bond shall be paid by the levee district. Any other provisions of this Section to the contrary notwithstanding this classification shall not entitle persons to state supplemental pay.

B. Any person arrested by a Lafourche Basin Levee District police officer, in the exercise of the power hereinabove granted, shall be immediately transferred by such officer to the custody of the sheriff or city police wherein the arrest occurs.

C. No person shall be commissioned as a Lafourche Basin Levee District police officer, unless prior to such commissioning the person has, as a minimum requirement, successfully completed a certified law enforcement training course and basic firearms training program, including any annual recertification, and meets the other requirements set by the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections or his designee.

D. In no event shall the total membership of the Lafourche Basin Levee District Police Force exceed four members. All members shall be in the classified service of the state. The board of commissioners is hereby authorized to expend whatever funds are necessary for the operation and maintenance of the police force.

E. In addition to the provisions of this Section or any other provision of law, the president of the Lafourche Basin Levee District may contract with sheriffs' offices within the area of the Lafourche Basin Levee District for purposes of providing police protection and surveillance of the levee system. No such contract shall be binding or effective until approved by the board of commissioners of the Lafourche Basin Levee District in a public meeting by a record vote of a majority of its membership.

Acts 1985, No. 771, §1; Acts 2005, No. 5, §1.