Photograph: Graig LeBlanc is sworn-in as Opelousas Chief of Police on Sunday by Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Jimmy Genovese as family members look on. (Photograph by Bobby Ardoin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Newly-elected Opelousas Police Chief Graig LeBlanc spoke about opportunity and the weight of his leadership responsibility Sunday following a swearing-in ceremony at the Civic Center.
LeBlanc told the large assembled crowd that watched as he and other city officials were introduced for the starts of four-year terms, that he realized the importance of what it meant to become police chief as he first met with the 41 officers who comprise his department.
“I realized then that I am responsible for their lives as well as the 15,500 citizens who are living in the city. The question now is, where do we start? I just know that you have a great number of followers who follow great leaders,” LeBlanc said.
As he said during the months of his campaign, LeBlanc stressed that it is his goal, “to get the city back to where it needs to be.”
LeBlanc added that in order for his department to succeed, “We can only have hope in order to move this city forward. So what can we do? We can only do our best.”
The Police Department, LeBlanc acknowledged, has obstacles to overcome at this point.
“It’s going to take a lot of work. There’s also lots of equipment to get,” LeBlanc said. His officers, LeBlanc said, also need to become better trained.
LeBlanc said he plans to institute what he called a Community Service Unit, whose motto will be, “protection with service.”
In a separate interview LeBlanc said he also plans to reach out more to the Opelousas youths, as an attempt to help curtail juvenile crime.
