St. Landry Parish Gets Grant Money From Walmart Distribution Center

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office recently received some grant money from the Walmart Distribution Center, and they have put the money to good use.

St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz stated:

“We are pleased that the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office received a grant from Walmart Distribution Center allowing the department to purchase new video surveillance for our S.W.A.T. team.”

Lt. Jesse Martin is the grant writer for the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office.  He said the grant money was used to purchase a robotic video camera.

Martin said:

"The camera transfers images back to the officers controlling it. This video system can make use of black-and-white night vision, as well as infrared technologies. It also has both microphones and speakers, so that police can listen in to what is happening in the robot's environment and communicate with people near the robot. This is particularly useful in hostage situations.”

Martin said the funding helps their department to reach their mission of keeping both the community and deputies safe.

He added, "Instead of having to send a S.W.A.T. team member into an unknown situation, we will be able to send in the robot camera while we can monitor the circumstances from a safe place.”