LSU Awarded Federal Grant to Launch Statewide Sergeant’s Leadership Academy for Law Enforcement

BATON ROUGE, LA — The LSU Police Department (LSU PD), in partnership with the LSU Leadership Development Institute (LSU LDI) and the LSU National Center for Biomedical Research and Training/Academy of Counter-Terrorist Education (LSU NCBRT/ACE), has been awarded a U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Microgrant to launch a new leadership development initiative for law enforcement agencies across Louisiana. 

“We are excited to partner with LSU LDI and LSU NCBRT/ACE in launching this supervisory training program. We believe this initiative represents a vital step toward strengthening leadership, not only within our department but across law enforcement agencies statewide,” LSU Police Department Chief of Police Marshall Walters said. “By providing our supervisors with the essential tools to lead with integrity, accountability, and confidence, we are making an investment in the future of policing.”

This funding enables the creation of the Sergeant’s Leadership Academy, a comprehensive training and coaching program designed to support emerging and newly appointed law enforcement supervisors. The initiative is designed to facilitate a smooth transition from patrol officer to supervisor and focuses on equipping participants with practical leadership tools rooted in community engagement and public trust, mental wellness within law enforcement, and effective team management. In collaboration with subject matter experts and regional law enforcement partners, the program will pilot and refine a scalable training model tailored to the evolving needs of frontline supervisors.

“This grant enables us to create a leadership program that responds to the day-to-day demands of modern law enforcement,” said Lacy Dicharry, Director of LSU LDI. “Through a combination of training, community-focused strategies, individualized coaching, and a research-based curriculum, we aim to build leadership capacity and support the success of frontline leaders in the communities they serve.”

The program includes a four-day, in-person training that will utilize interactive workshops and tabletop exercises to develop leadership, team dynamics, and conflict management skills. Following the training, participants will receive personalized one-on-one coaching from LSU LDI-certified coaches to reinforce learning and foster a coaching climate within their agencies. The curriculum will be refined through three pilot sessions: an internal review, a community stakeholder pilot, and a full implementation with the first cohort. Program impact will be measured using the Holton-Bates Learning Transfer System Inventory (LTSI) to assess opportunities and barriers for real-world application, further supporting the program’s ongoing success. Upon conclusion of the grant period, the Sergeant’s Leadership Academy will transition to a self-sustaining, registration-based training program, offering continued coaching and support for agencies across the state.

“LSU NCBRT/ACE is proud to partner with LSU PD and LSU LDI to develop and provide this type of training to Louisiana’s law enforcement community,” LSU NCBRT/ACE Associate Director for Research and Development Jerry Monier said. “The most significant promotional step for many law enforcement officers is that transition to being a line level supervisor. The LSU NCBRT/ACE instructors working on this project are experienced law enforcement supervisors who specialize in leadership and talent development. We hope that the Academy will have a positive impact on law enforcement agencies throughout the state.”

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About LSU Police Department
The LSU Police Department (LSU PD) is dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment for the LSU community. Through proactive engagement and collaborative efforts, LSU PD strives to build strong, trusting relationships with the community while ensuring safety on campus.

About LSU Leadership Development Institute
The LSU Leadership Development Institute (LSU LDI) connects leadership expertise to practitioners across every field. As part of LSU’s College of Human Sciences & Education, LSU LDI serves as Louisiana’s academic hub for leadership development and education. Through strong partnerships with LSU academic units and departments, LSU LDI delivers sustainable, research-driven solutions grounded in evidence-based practices, empowering leaders to drive meaningful change and innovation. If you see the LSU Leadership Development Institute as the solution to your challenges, visit www.lsu.edu/ldi. 

About LSU NCBRT/ACE
LSU NCBRT/ACE is a nationally recognized center for emergency preparedness and response training located at Louisiana State University’s flagship campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that provides mobile training to the nation’s emergency response community. LSU NCBRT/ACE has expertise in research, development and delivery of training in the areas of specialized law enforcement operations; biological incident response; food and agriculture safety and security; school safety; and instructional design and technique. For more information on LSU NCBRT/ACE’s courses and resources, please visit ncbrt.lsu.edu.