The commission may appoint peace officers for airport-related policing, and those officers must meet listed qualifications and follow limits on where and how they act.
§604.3. Houma-Terrebonne Airport Commission; peace officers; appointment, duties, and powers A. The Houma-Terrebonne Airport Commission may, in its discretion, appoint and commission peace officers who shall enforce laws, rules, and regulations to secure the protection of persons, properties, or interests relating to the commission, and only within the commission's jurisdiction. Such jurisdiction shall consist of the physical boundaries of the Houma-Terrebonne airport as defined within the Code of Ordinances of the parish of Terrebonne and any immovable properties owned by the commission. B. Peace officers so commissioned and appointed by the commission shall be employees of the commission and meet the following requirements: (1) Be citizens of the state of Louisiana. (2) Have attained the age of twenty-one. (3) Be P.O.S.T. certified in accordance with the Peace Officer Standards and Training law. C. Under the direction and control of the commission, the commission's peace officers shall exercise regular police powers of the state granted to law enforcement officers with respect to criminal and other offenses affecting the protection of persons, properties, or interests, but only as it relates to the commission, the airport, or to the performance of their duties for the commission, and only within the commission's jurisdiction. D. Nothing in this Section shall prevent municipal, parish, or state law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction in Terrebonne Parish from maintaining and exercising their police powers within the commission's jurisdiction. In the event of a serious incident or contested scene, final authority shall be deferred to the police chief or his proxy. E. Except for exigent circumstances, the commission's peace officers shall report and refer to a municipal, parish, or state law enforcement agency any suspected criminal activity within the commission's jurisdiction which may result in felony charges. A municipal, parish, or state law enforcement agency having concurrent jurisdiction with the commission, may, at its discretion, take the lead in or take over any investigation originating with the commission. The commission peace officers shall cooperate with such agency. F. Any persons arrested by the commission's peace officers, and the return of all warrants or processes served by said officers, shall be surrendered or delivered to the appropriate law enforcement agency within the parish of Terrebonne. G. The commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the conduct, management, training, and control of its peace officers and may, from time to time, amend such rules and regulations in its discretion. The commission shall ensure that its peace officers maintain proper and regular law enforcement training. H. Nothing in this Section shall be deemed, nor is it intended, to alter the assessment, collection, and administration of ad valorem tax revenues within the commission's jurisdiction. Acts 2024, No. 232, §1.