Levee District Police
Encyclopedia
The Levee District Police is a state law enforcement service division of Louisiana, United States.
Officers are under the State's classified service
and commissioned state police special officers as peace officers by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety, Office of State Police
. They possess statewide arrest and investigative power. In addition to providing for general law enforcement, the Division of Levee District Police enforces the following laws:
They also enforce provisions of the Federal Rivers and Harbors Act
and other regulations. Their primary mission is homeland security for the protection of the federal levees, waterways, ports, waterfront areas, marinas, bridges and adjacent highways and roadways in these areas. They perform complex criminal investigations and gather criminal intelligence. Also, officers are trained in search and rescue and respond to emergencies on a regular basis.
A given officer's assigned area may consist of several parishes or counties within the state. Officers work either uniformed or undercover and generally work independent of other officers. Officers utilize special SUV vehicles that have four wheel drive capabilities. In addition, they use ATVs and other special four wheel drive off-road vehicles which enable them to access out of the way locations. Levee District Police also provide for law enforcement on waterways. This is accomplished with both patrol boats and vehicle patrol of accessible shore areas. Special marine vessels equipped for maritime law enforcement duties enable the officers to accomplish their tasks. All officers carry a variety of weapons which include fully automatic machine guns, special tactical shotguns, sniper rifles, tasers, carbine rifles and semi automatic pistols.
Levee District Police make a significant contribution to the homeland security effort. The Division is a member of the US Coast Guard Area Maritime Security Committee, the US Department of Justice Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council, F.B.I. Infragard and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Critical Infrastructure Advisory Council.
These law enforcement officers are specially trained in tactical response. The Levee District Police have both land and marine special response team (S.W.A.T.) capabilities through the integrated use of both land and marine units.
Officers are under the State's classified service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
and commissioned state police special officers as peace officers by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety, Office of State Police
Louisiana State Police
The Louisiana State Police is the state police department of Louisiana, which has jurisdiction anywhere in the state, headquartered in Baton Rouge. It was created to protect the lives, property and constitutional rights of people in Louisiana. It falls under the authority of the Louisiana...
. They possess statewide arrest and investigative power. In addition to providing for general law enforcement, the Division of Levee District Police enforces the following laws:
- Title 14 (Criminal Code)
- Title 30 (Environmental Laws)
- Title 32 (Highway Regulatory Laws)
- Title 34 (Boating and Navigation Laws)
- Title 38 (Levee District Laws)
- Title 40 (Narcotics and Illegal Weapons)
- Title 56 (Fish and Game Laws)
They also enforce provisions of the Federal Rivers and Harbors Act
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899
The Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1899 is the oldest federal environmental law in the United States. The Act makes it a misdemeanor to discharge refuse matter of any kind into the navigable waters, or tributaries thereof, of the United States without a permit; this specific provision is...
and other regulations. Their primary mission is homeland security for the protection of the federal levees, waterways, ports, waterfront areas, marinas, bridges and adjacent highways and roadways in these areas. They perform complex criminal investigations and gather criminal intelligence. Also, officers are trained in search and rescue and respond to emergencies on a regular basis.
A given officer's assigned area may consist of several parishes or counties within the state. Officers work either uniformed or undercover and generally work independent of other officers. Officers utilize special SUV vehicles that have four wheel drive capabilities. In addition, they use ATVs and other special four wheel drive off-road vehicles which enable them to access out of the way locations. Levee District Police also provide for law enforcement on waterways. This is accomplished with both patrol boats and vehicle patrol of accessible shore areas. Special marine vessels equipped for maritime law enforcement duties enable the officers to accomplish their tasks. All officers carry a variety of weapons which include fully automatic machine guns, special tactical shotguns, sniper rifles, tasers, carbine rifles and semi automatic pistols.
Levee District Police make a significant contribution to the homeland security effort. The Division is a member of the US Coast Guard Area Maritime Security Committee, the US Department of Justice Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council, F.B.I. Infragard and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Critical Infrastructure Advisory Council.
These law enforcement officers are specially trained in tactical response. The Levee District Police have both land and marine special response team (S.W.A.T.) capabilities through the integrated use of both land and marine units.