ST. LANDRY PARISH, La (KLFY) – Two St. Landry Parish deputies were among 11 others who graduated from a special training academy Tuesday morning.

The training is geared toward helping officers learn various techniques that they can use in different situations, much like what officers are experiencing across the country today.

Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) is a 12-week long academy that is state mandated for all officers.

“By state law, you can be on the road for only one year, then you have to go be P.O.S.T. certified or you cannot be a law enforcement officer,” said Lt. Col. Paul DiCapo, Chief Deputy of Law Enforcement at the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Lt. Col. DiCapo says about 95% of their deputies have gone through the training.

“P.O.S.T. teaches everything from your report writing to use of force,” said Lt. Col. DiCapo.

“They dealt with crime prevention, culture diversity, dealing with the mentally ill, crisis intervention,” said St. Landry Parish Deputy, Ronald Francis.

Deputy Francis along with Deputy Jason Vidrine were among the graduating class.

Deputy Francis says after getting out of law enforcement for a period of time, the training was more like a refresher course.

“I did learn some new things as far as the defensive tactics, crime prevention, and cultural diversity,” said Deputy Francis.

Lt. Col. DiCapo says the various techniques taught are put to use when officers have a split second to make decisions in a critical moment.

“Everybody can sit back and watch a video and say ‘oh they should have done this or they should have done that,’ but you’re not the one that’s fighting with the subject,” said Lt. Col. DiCapo.

Aside from proper training, Lt. Col. DiCapo says it’s about working together as one.

“When I put my badge on I don’t put my badge on as a white cop and they don’t put their badge on as a black cop, we’re one,” said Lt. Col. DiCapo. “Our main goal is we want you to go home, but we want to go home to our families also.”