Committee approves joint purchase of AEDs using opioid settlement funds

On Dec. 9, 2025, the Public Safety and Emergency Services Committee of the Lincoln Parish Police Jury approved a motion to cooperate with the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office to jointly fund and distribute Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to first responders and public works personnel using opioid settlement funds. The motion was offered by Dan Lord and seconded by T.J. Cranford; the vote recorded YEAS: Lord, Cranford, Hunt, Garriga, Melton and Straughter.

Parish Administrator Courtney Hall explained the funding source, saying that "under the Louisiana State-Local Government Opioid Litigation Guidelines settlement funds are allocated to parishes and sheriffs for approved abatement strategies." Hall told the committee that several parishes and sheriff’s offices are using settlement money to buy AEDs for first responders and public works staff, and recommended the parish take the same approach.

The committee’s action authorizes cooperation with the sheriff’s office to jointly purchase and distribute the units, but the minutes do not specify the number of AEDs to be purchased, the exact dollar amount, or a timeline for distribution. Committee members did not receive public comment on the item; the meeting record shows no questions, objections or amendments were entered in committee discussion.

The action uses settlement funds designated for abatement strategies under state-local guidelines; the motion does not create permanent budget language in the minutes and leaves implementation details to parish and sheriff’s office coordination. The committee approved the meeting agenda at the outset and adjourned after taking the single listed action.