An accusation was made about a non-certified Ville Platte Police Officer making an arrest Friday. It was alleged the teenage suspect was body slammed during the arrest. The officer in question was approved as a full time employee at the June 17, 2019 Ville Platte city council meeting. His hiring was conditional, providing he pass his psychological evaluation, physicals, and post-academy. This is the standard for every newly-hired police officer.
According to the United States Department of Justice, in a settlement agreement regarding the Ville Platte Police Department, “No VPPD employee, whether full-time or part-time, will be allowed to perform the full duties of a law enforcement officer until they have successfully completed all requirements for POST certification under state law, including training requirements. Uncertified officers may not interact with members of the community while armed with a service weapon, respond to calls for service, or perform or issue any stop, search, interrogation, citation, or arrest.”
VPPD Chief Neil Lartigue said, “This is an agreement, but it’s not the law. The Louisiana revised statute doesn’t go into effect until January 2022.” Lartigue said he spoke with the state and told them he would be putting non-certified officers on duty because he only had one officer on duty and needed more.
As for the teen who was arrested Friday, Lartigue said the 17-year-old was loitering, and the officer found out he had warrants out on him from the sheriff’s department. The teen was wanted for kidnapping and aggravated assault.
A witness, who said he was at the scene Friday, said he saw the teen body slammed by the officer. Lartigue said no one made a complaint against the arresting officer.
June 13, 2026
