NORTH DELTA REGIONAL TRAINING ACADEMY

The North Delta Regional Training Academy (NDRTA) was created in 1976 to provide basic law enforcement and correctional certification training to police officers and corrections officers in the northeast Louisiana region. NDRTA officially serves 11 parishes (Ouachita, Morehouse, Union, Richland, East Carroll, West Carroll, Madison, Tensas, Caldwell, Franklin, and Jackson) but enrolls officers from 15 or more parishes. The training curriculum is specified by the Louisiana POST Council and NDRTA is regulated by POST Council rules.

The NDRTA generally conducts three (3) twelve-week academy sessions each year; one beginning about mid-January, one beginning about mid-April, and one beginning in early September. In addition, one night academy session is offered from late August until early May (about 8.5 to 9 months). The night academy meets two or three nights each week for four hours each night. In addition, there are several 8-hour Saturday sessions held during the night academy session, Specific dates can be obtained by contacting Mr. Donald Patrick Stewart, Director of NDRTA at 318/362-5558 or by e-mail at stewart@ulm.edu.

Students who enroll in the academy sessions must hold a regular or a reserve commission from a law enforcement agency and be sent to the academy by that agency. Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis with priority being granted to agencies within the 11-parish service area. There are physical entry and exit standards which must be met by each student prior to entry and again prior to exit. The physical standards vary by age, by gender, and by type of enrollment.

Instructors in the academy sessions include college professors, police officers, correctional officers, assistant district attorneys, and other professionals in the community. Approximately 35 instructors participate in each academy session.

The Basic Law Enforcement Certification Course consists of 480 hours including classroom, firearms, driving, and defensive tactics. The day academy sessions complete these requirements in 12 weeks. The night academy sessions complete the requirements in approximately 7 to 8.5 months, attending two or three times each week for 4 hours each evening and meeting for some 8-hour Saturday sessions. Officers completing this course are POST certified and eligible to receive state supplemental pay.

The Correctional Certification Course consists of 280 hours including classroom, firearms, and defensive tactics. These day academy sessions complete the requirements in 7 weeks.

Fees, payable by the agency in advance, for attendance are:

Basic Law Enforcement Certification: Call 318/362-5558 for Tuition and Building Use Costs

Correctional Certification: Call 318/362-5558 for Tuition & Building Use Costs

The agency is responsible for providing two cases (total of 2000 rounds) of ammunition to fit the weapon that the officer will use in training. That weapon should be the same weapon that the officer will carry when assigned to the street.

There is a building-use fee per person payable to the West Monroe Police Department (as fiduciary for the three-agency building administrators).

Physical Entry and Exit Standards