By Pat Culverhouse
She’s been there, done that. And that’s what makes Heather Boucher, the Minden police department’s newest detective, so good at her job.
Boucher comes to the MPD with a lengthy resume of success in dealing with sex crimes and crimes involving juveniles. According to Chief Jared McIver, her expertise is going to give the department a huge advantage in critical investigations.
“She has so many certifications in the areas of sex crime investigations and crimes involving children,” McIver said. “She is going to free our other investigators by taking on these critical areas.”
Boucher’s 16 years of experience runs from stints with the law enforcement agencies including the Shreveport PD and Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office. And as a member of campus security at Shreveport’s Centenary College, she was responsible for introducing programs on sexual awareness and domestic violence in the athletic department.
Her certifications include investigation into sex crimes, crimes against children, homicide and criminal interrogations. Most of her training goes in the areas of sex crimes and crimes against children.
She also holds a private investigator’s license in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas. Investigations are her thing. She uses a combination of education and experience to help get to the bottom of things.
“I’ve walked in their shoes. I’m a wife, a mother, and I’m a survivor of sexual abuse and domestic violence,” Boucher said. “When I sit down with a victim of sexual or domestic abuse, I can relate.”
Boucher said she wants to be a voice for those who think they do not have a voice.
“A victim’s first response usually is ‘you don’t understand.’ But they learn I do understand. I love to hear them finally say I’m the first person who’s ever listened to them. Whether it’s true or not, that’s the way they feel,” she said.
“The first thing to do is listen, then you believe. You need to be that sounding block for them. The healing process begins when they’re heard and believed.”
“As a survivor, she can relate,” McIver said. “That’s our huge advantage with Heather. Women may be scared to come forward because they believe we can’t relate. Now, we have someone who can relate…someone who can say ‘I’ve been there.’ Women will open up to her when they perhaps won’t for a male investigator.”
Boucher said she believes strongly in utilizing resources available to victims.
“Our best resources are the Family Justice Center of Northwest Louisiana and Gingerbread House. It’s important to be able to offer individuals or families and juveniles resources that can really be helpful to their situation,” she said.
Education will also play a vital role in helping promote opportunity and awareness.
“We will capitalize on her teaching experience,” McIver said. “In the future, we plan to have seminars for victims or persons who may be having difficulties. She can teach them to see the warning signs…red flags. We want them to recognize red flags, not collect them.”
“Education is important in recognizing potential sexual assault and domestic violence,” Boucher said. “We have to have them empowered to recognize what’s not normal. A victim is told what’s happening to them is out of love.
“In the back of their mind they know it’s not right, but you’re being told it’s normal…they’re being groomed. It happens in all walks of life. Monsters don’t want you to know they’re monsters,” she said.
In addition to relieving MPD detectives for other cases, Boucher’s role will also extend to involvement with the department’s patrol officers. Her investigative background includes previous interaction with the department’s Patrol Commander, Lt. Shane Griffith.
“It’s huge for me to be involved with patrol officers,” she said. “I wasn’t there to see what they saw, to hear what they heard. By having a rapport with patrol and Lt. Griffith, it broadens the scope of the investigation from the beginning.”
Boucher has already hit the ground running. In just her second day on the job, a hit-and-run incident involved five juveniles and trips to the Gingerbread House to gather information.
“That’s what makes her so valuable to us,” McIver said. “We don’t have to worry about training her. She has so many certifications, so many contacts, all we had to do was notify her and she was on the case until its conclusion.”
“That’s what I do,” Boucher said. “When I get a case, I’m totally involved. I want the people I’m trying to help to know they have me full-time and I’m there until it’s over.”