OPD Says Crime Declines

BOBBY ARDOIN

Editor/Consulting Writer

The Opelousas Police Department provided the Tuesday Noon Rotary Club with data that Chief Graig LeBlanc said indicates that his department is effectively reducing crime inside the city.

LeBlanc explained to Rotarians that software technological improvements such as more surveillance cameras, the increased number of OPD vehicles canvassing the city and the ability of patrol officers to use license plate readers inside their vehicles have helped more rapidly identify potential criminal activities.

Judicial intervention programs implemented by Opelousas City Court have also assisted with mitigating the number of juvenile criminals, said LeBlanc.

LeBlanc however told the packed meeting room that crime is a societal element that will never completely disappear.

“You will never eliminate crime altogether. What we want is to create a tolerable level of crime in the city. All we as officers can do is try to control (crime),” said LeBlanc.

Despite having only 40 employed officers, LeBlanc said the city is safer now than when he took office in January 2023.

Arrest and citation totals decreased in Opelousas from 4,465 in 2023, to 3,658, LeBlanc added.

Using a powerpoint presentation, LeBlanc provided OPD-compiled crime statistics which indicate reductions in shooting arrests, robberies, aggravated assaults and burglaries.

There were eight homicides in Opelousas in both 2023 and 2024, LeBlanc said.

Cameras And Technology

The implementation of surveillance cameras in designated areas of Opelousas provides officers with another significant crime fighting weapon, according to LeBlanc.

“We can make arrests quicker using camera technology. If you can make an arrest in a couple of hours of a crime being committed, then it’s going to send a message,” LeBlanc said.

LeBlanc said cameras now being placed along Interstate 49 near the Opelousas-areas are providing another layer of crime prevention.

The cameras are being used primarily to coordinate potential crime activity between Opelousa and Lafayette, LeBlanc said.

“Cameras are compensating for shortages in manpower. For instance if we have a suspect in a vehicle we think is leaving Opelousas for Lafayette, the camera reads the license plate and alerts Lafayette or Carencro,” LeBlanc pointed out.

Juvenile Issues

LeBlanc said most of the crimes OPD investigates are from suspects in the 19-to 28-year-old age group.

Substantive citywide juvenile crime data isn’t available, LeBlanc said, since statistics for those crimes are monitored by state officials.

“Juvenile crime is big, but we have seen a difference since City Court has begun taking a hands-on-approach for that,” said LeBlanc.

“When I first came into office, it seemed like we were bringing a juvenile to the facility in Mississippi every day. Now the City Court and Judge Shawn Caillier-Harden have an at-risk juvenile program. We(OPD) are doing our part and we are sending (juveniles) to City Court,” LeBlanc added.

Conceal And Carry

LeBlanc said he has no particular issue with Louisiana conceal and carry laws, but he cautioned that the new statutes that allow that privilege underscores necessary responsibilities.

“I think there probably needs to be more education to go along with that. People also have to ask themselves whether they are doing more harm than good. For instance the target might not be the only person that you hit. Otherwise I guess I’m alright with it,” said LeBalnc. .