OPD Promotes Officers
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
Two Opelousas City Police officers were upgraded to the ranks of lieutenant Tuesday night during a dual pinning ceremony conducted by Chief Graig LeBlanc.
Officers Derek Garrick and Jeremy Bias received their promotions before the start of the September Board of Aldermen meeting at City Hall.
LeBlanc also provided a pair of recognition awards for communications officer Kendrell Jackson and officer first class Anthony Henry, Jr.
Garrick and Bias, according to LeBlanc, are veteran officers that have each been with OPD for 15 years.
LeBlanc added that recent promotions within the department have created several vacancies.
Bias, LeBlanc said, will become a nightshift officer who has previously drained a number of officers who have recently joined the department.
LeBlanc pointed out that Jackson is the first communications officer to receive an officer recognition award.
The role that Jackson plays in OPD is vital, LeBlanc said.
“Our dispatchers are the ones who direct the officers to the scene and they often have to display a lot of patience in order to get that information across,” said LeBlanc.
Henry previously worked for the Duson Police Department, LeBlanc said.
Since joining OPD, Henry has been employed as a K-9 and a narcotics officer, according to LeBlanc.
