FERRIDAY — The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office has entered into an agreement with the Town of Ferriday for use of the old police department.

CPSO Chief Deputy David Hedrick said the facility would be used for its SWAT and rescue teams to train in making tactical entries.

“One of the most dangerous situations is one where someone has a gun and is in a house and an officer is forced to make entry,” Hedrick said. “The officer needs to know all the ins and outs to clear the house and make it safe, not only for him, but for the entire community.”

Hedrick said no money would exchange hands, but that training would be extended to Ferriday Police Department officers.

“We are going to train Ferriday officers how to do a two-man tactical entry,” Hedrick said. “It is safer for the officers, and it will make it safer for the town’s people to have better trained officers.”

Other officers in the parish, including Vidalia and Clayton, will also have the opportunity to train with the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, he said.

“It is not just about the sheriff’s office,” Hedrick said. “All officers in the parish need to be properly trained.

“We will be more than happy to extend our training to them for tactical entry for free.”

Hedrick said he is a SWAT instructor, as is deputy John Cowan. Hedrick said most of his deputies have been certified in SWAT operations. Hedrick said the SWAT team itself consists of approximately nine deputies.

Hedrick said the SWAT team practices twice a month, rotating around the parish at different locations. The former Ferriday Police Department would only be used for practicing tactical entry.