Photograph: Opelousas Police Chief Graig LeBlanc (Photograph by Freddie Herpin)
By: David Riley – Contributing Writer
In an interview for St. Landry Now, on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, Police Chief Graig Leblanc discussed violent crime in Opelousas and presented his plans for addressing this problem.
Chief Leblanc explained that in the last eight to ten years, violence has been on the rise and at this point in time, “plagues the city,” along with much of the nation. During his tenure in law enforcement there have been times when violent crime was not as prevalent in Opelousas as it is today. This gives him hope that reducing violent crime is a realistic goal for the city. Leblanc hopes that “with the right mindset, with the right efforts, with the right plan, it can still be reduced and controlled to a certain extent.”
In reference to past attempts to address the problem of violent crime in Opelousas, Chief Leblanc said that the previous administrations, those which he served under, did not have a clear strategy that equipped officers to help reduce shootings and assaults. He asserted that, besides “throwing manpower” at the problem of violent crime, no previous administration has approached the problem with a definite plan.
Leblanc pointed out that rates of violent crimes have increased over the past couple of years. He believes that one reason for this increase is the reputation of the city and its police department. He used the example of cities with positive reputations, which draw people to them, perhaps for their good food, safety, or culture. If a city or its law enforcement has a reputation for lacking resources or the ability to fight violent crime, then it will attract those with bad intentions. He hopes that changing the reputation of the officers and the police force will change the kinds of people that are attracted to the city. “We don’t want to attract the criminal element, we don’t want to attract the people who cause trouble, we want to attract people who bring value to the community.”
When asked to identify the common causes of violence in Opelousas, Leblanc made a distinction between what has been identified in the past as “gangs,” which do not exist in the same way that they once did, and “hybrid gangs,” which are formed by overlapping relationships between smaller groups of people. According to Leblanc, gangs no longer have the leadership structure and organization that they once did. This has caused the issue to become more complicated, and violence more common. Rather than seeking revenge because of belonging to a single gang, a person could take on the offense of several groups with which they identify. Animosity grows, not just between one faction and another, but within a web of interconnected factions. “It’s getting harder to identify the root cause of what’s going on…”
Social media also plays a significant role in creating tension. It is now online where offenses are often given or taken, and violent threats made, which can lead to violent actions. “Everything in law enforcement is moving towards more technology and out of the street cop realm.” The fundamentals of traditional policing still apply, Leblanc asserted, but are having to be implemented in online investigation. Improving the technology of the police department and observing threats on social media have led to recent arrests.
Chief Leblanc was able to outline his strategy for reducing violent crime in Opelousas. “The short term plan is enforcement.” This would involve placement of officers based in target areas at particular times to be most effective. The long term strategy would involve community policing, which “has nothing to do with enforcement and everything to do with being proactive in the community, getting to know the community, bridging the gap between the police department and the youth of the community, so that we as law enforcement can become the influencers again.” He has seen a shift in the city from law enforcement having a positive influence on the city to those who commit crime being the most prominent influencers. Some of this loss of influence, Leblanc argues, is due to the distrust towards law enforcement that has grown nationwide in recent years. He believes that in the past, law enforcement in Opelousas has taken the “stance of us against them,” and he wants to see that change to “saying, we’re here to serve, we’re here to be part of the community, for outreach, we’re here for support.” He hopes to regain trust with the community. Leblanc said that his motto is “protection through service.”
The reimplementation of Junior Police is one way that Chief Leblanc hopes to begin repairing the relationship between law enforcement and the community, specifically the youth. They are starting this program in third through sixth grade locally. He hopes to expand the program to older age groups, junior high and high school, as relationships improve. Eventually, this program could involve ride-alongs for junior high students as well as the Exploring program for high school students.
Chief Leblanc encouraged people living in Opelousas to do what they can to help stay safe. His advice includes paying attention to surroundings, removing opportunities for crime by keeping things locked up, and maintaining yards and properties. He also reminded citizens to say something when they see something, recognizing that this requires trust of law enforcement by the community. He also asks for patience on the part of citizens in Opelousas as he and the rest of law enforcement attempt to make strides in reducing violent crime. He made note that in March of 2023, there was a two-week period that involved some of the worst violence that Opelousas has ever seen, but that since then things have gotten better.
When asked what Opelousas could look like five years from now, Chief Leblanc said, “I actually think Opelousas will be a safer community, I can absolutely say that without a doubt. If we succeed, and I only have control over public safety, if we can succeed in that area I think that Opelousas will start to grow economically, and I think we could actually see some success in Opelousas if everyone just remains hopeful and patient. We will do our best and we are going to continue to do our best. Like I said, we’ve made some huge strides in these last five months and it’s been an exhausting five months, it really has.” According to Leblanc, in the coming months and years, residents can expect a more professional police force, with officers who are fully invested, and with a more relaxed relationship with the community.
