By Pat Culverhouse

Local investigators received insight into the criminal mind and heard first-hand from officers involved in handling a deadly mass shooting during a training symposium sponsored by the Louisiana Homicide Investigators’ Association (LHIA).

Minden Police Dept. Lt. Shane Griffith, Vice President of the Investigators’ Association, said the session is approved by the Police Officer’s Standards and Training (POST) to satisfy POST homicide investigator training requirements.

“This puts us in contact with people whose experience and expertise is valuable to our growth as investigators,” Griffith said. “The LHIA brings us together and we learn from one another.”

Included was a study in “The Mind Behind Abnormal & Deviant Behavior,” presented by mental health professional Jaymi Goetze.  Investigators heard Rodney Johnson III from the Louisiana State Police on the subject of suspect interviews.

Major Donny Burbrink III and Det. Kevin Carrillo from the Louisville (KY) Metro Police Dept. discussed the case of the Old National Bank mass shooting, a 2023 tragedy where five people were killed and eight others injured.

Local officers attending were Griffith, Det. Chase Walsworth, Webster SO; Det. Matthew Hicks, Minden PD; and Sgt. Jason Lee, Minden PD. 

“District Attorney Schuyler Marvin, MPD Chief Jarod McIver, and Sheriff Jason Parker are huge supporters of the LHIA,” Griffith said. “They encourage us and make it possible for us to attend.”