OPD Honors Letitia Dartez
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
The life story for Letitia Trahan-Dartez has been defined by successfully hurdling challenges and on Thursday night navigating those obstacles was saluted at the Opelousas Police Department during a ceremony associated with Black History month.
OPD recognized Dartez as the first departmental female lieutenant, a distinction that she said was accomplished by overcoming some of the difficulties faced by young female officers over 30 years ago.
Complementing the lifetime accomplishments of Dartez were remarks from her brother, Ronnie Trahan, Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor and St. Landry Parish Assessor Sheri McGovern.
Opelousas Police Chief Graig LeBlanc said Dartez was already an acknowledged leader when he arrived as a departmental rookie.
“(Dartez) had walked through and opened doors that were once closed and used her leadership to strengthen the department,” said LeBlanc.
Ronnie Trahan provided supporting testimony.
“She wasn’t the type that was going to sit behind a desk. (Dartez) became involved in all aspects of policing, coordinator, supervisor, everything. She was the one who broke that glass ceiling” Trahan said.
Trahan, also a former OPD officer, said he and his sister traveled similar career paths, not only with city police, but working with other local law enforcement agencies.
Her tenacity developed soon enough, said Dartez, a North Elementary student who was one of three girls in an eight-member family growing up in the Oil Mill area of Opelousas.
Dartez recalled that her father had served in the military and he was adamant, she said, about approaching life with a serious attitude.
“My father had seen war and he was someone who always challenged me as a strict disciplinarian,” Dartez added.
The family dynamic certainly played a role, Dartez said.
“Being in that situation (with five brothers) taught me and challenged me. When I was qualifying in the police academy, I also faced completing the three-mile run and I persevered with the help of another officer (Jimmy Broussard) who ran and encouraged me for the last mile and a half,” Dartz said.
Then there was the strict regimen of working for Opelousas Police Chief Larry Caillier, Dartez indicated.
“When I got to the department, Chief Caillier challenged me to always be my best. Whenever he came into the room, I stood at attention. (Caillier) was my boss. He deserved my respect,” Dartez noted.
Under Caillier, who attended the Thursday night ceremony, Dartez said she performed nearly every detail required at OPD.
Dartez worked as a patrol officer, resource officer, investigation and crime scenes.
During her OPD career, Dartez recalled that she might not necessarily be described as a trailblazer.
“I was more of a trail follower. I stood on the shoulders of my colleagues and by doing that, it made me the best of what I could be,” Dartez admitted.
Dartez recognized the sources of her strength.
“I knew where I came from and I understood good leadership,” she said.
