Crimes were down 6% during the first six months of the year, according to statistics released by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. There was an 11% drop the previous year.
The department reported drops this year in each of the seven major categories of crime tracked by the FBI, including double-digit dips in the number of homicides, assaults and burglaries.
"Although the perception of crime certainly continues to rise because of social media, the stats speak for themselves," Sheriff Joseph Lopinto said Wednesday as he commended the men and women of the department for their work to keep residents safe.
The numbers do not include the municipalities of Kenner, Gretna, Harahan, Westwego, Grand Isle and Jean Lafitte, which have their own police departments. But they do include areas like Metairie, Marrero, Elmwood, Old Jefferson and River Ridge.
Next door in New Orleans, police have also reported decreases in each of their crime categories except theft/shoplifting. During the first half of the year, the New Orleans Police Department saw a 41% decline in the city's homicide rate and a 37% drop in the number of non-fatal shootings.
The declines mirror trends seen nationally. Data compiled by the FBI show similar drops in violent and property crimes across the country during the first quarter of 2024.
The numbers come as no surprise to Nancy Pearson, retired former commander of JPSO's Community Relations Division, now president of the River Ridge Community Association.
"We're blessed not to have serious crime," she said noting that most complaints from residents there include identity theft and similar offenses.
SOLVE RATES
During the first six months of 2024, sheriff's detectives investigated 14 homicides, down 26% from the same time period in 2023.
As of Thursday, the department has recorded a total of 16 homicides, with arrests in all but three cases, according to Lopinto.
"The solve rates have been phenomenal," he said.
Among the unsolved cases is the Shrewsbury triple murder, the shooting deaths of two women and a man at a "homeless encampment" in Old Jefferson on April 3.
The bodies of Mindy Ann Robert, 44, Marcey Vincent, 33, and Warren Fairley, 53 were discovered at the campsite, which was at the back of a vacant lot on Shrewsbury Road and obscured by overgrown trees and brush.
Detectives still haven't been able to identify a suspect or a motive for the killings.
"We're always looking for information, eyewitnesses or anybody who has heard anything about the case," Lopinto said.
The other two homicide cases without arrests are the Jan. 22 shooting death of Tyler Williams, 19, near Westwego, and the fatal shooting of Andrew Davis IV, 21, in Harvey on Aug. 17.
SPECIALIZED UNITS
Lopinto credited the department's solve rates for the drops seen in other crime categories.
"When you make arrests, you keep criminals from reoffending," he said.
The sheriff also gave a nod to the department's specialized units, like the one dedicated to tackling shoplifting.
"We have the businesses on board. They tell us when known shoplifters are in the store," he said. "They call us ahead of time so we can be there when they're walking out the door."
A unit called the Strategic Engagement Team (SET) handles arrests for detectives, Lopinto said. When a detective obtains a warrant in a burglary or theft case, the SET team is responsible for finding the suspect, freeing investigators to move on to the next case.
FIRST RESPONDER DRONES
Lopinto said he has an eye on technology and how it can help the department keep crime rates low.
The Sheriff's Office already has a fleet of about 30 drones used to help map crime scenes or provide an eye in the sky during suspect searches. But Lopinto said he recently met with a company to discuss deploying first responder drones.
Traditional drones require line-of-sight operators nearby. First-responder drones are devices that could be strategically placed around the parish and remotely controlled by two or three people from miles away.
"If a 911 call comes in for a disturbance on the east bank, the drone is launched by a person on the West Bank and can overlook the scene and begin reporting details and communicating before deputies arrive," he said.
There are still questions to answer about the technology's use, including checks with the Federal Aviation Administration for airspace clearance. But Lopinto said he is absolutely looking into bringing the service to Jefferson Parish.
"These drones are game changers. I've got to leverage technology to be able to answer calls for service," Lopinto said.
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