Brian Tumor Foundation thanks LPSO for Support
Bullet McGee with “Ride for Kids” Pediatric Brian Tumor Foundation presents a plaque to Major Art Lebreton for LPSO assistance in their fund raiser.
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Shenandoah Neighborhood Watch Appreciates Deputies
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Dear Sheriff Neustrom
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Dear Sheriff Neustrom:
I would like to start off by thanking the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Department for their assistance in the planning and implementation of our Neighborhood Watch program. As you may already be aware, our neighborhood is not within the city limits of any smaller municipality, and is simply part of rural Lafayette Parish. Our neighborhood had increasing problems with thefts and criminal damage to property, and simply used the Lafayette Parish Sheriff s Department as a means of reporting the incidents.
After much frustration, our neighborhood decided it was time to take action and put a stop to our neighborhood problems. Sergeant Tom Stith with the Community Services Unit has been more than helpful and cooperative in assisting with getting the Neighborhood Watch up and running, and keeping it maintained.
Sergeant Stith and Deputy Elisa Foster came to our first Neighborhood Watch meeting armed with flyers, pamphlets, and a well of information which they shared with us. They gave us instruction on personal safety, securing our homes, monitoring the neighborhood and keeping ourselves safe in doing so, and dealing with certain situations that may arise, as well as how to work with the Sheriffs Department in resolving our problems, including a pro-active approach at deterring crime.
Our neighborhood also had a block party several months after starting our program, at which Sergeant Stith, his lovely wife, and Deputy Darrell Doucet attended. Sergeant Stith and Deputy Doucet presented some of our Neighborhood Watch Block Captains with the signs we had ordered and that were delivered to the Sheriff s Department, and made sure to get to know
the neighbors, listen to their concerns, and generally let the neighborhood know that the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Department is backing us in our endeavor.
I also wanted to add that Sergeant Stith and his wife attended the block party on their own personal time and we are very thankful to them for their presence and for Sergeant Stith's respectable work ethic. He is an asset to the Sheriff's Department, Actually, Sergeant Tom Stith, Deputy Darrell Doucet, and Deputy Elisa Foster, are all assets to your Department.
I initially had some doubts about the Neighborhood Watch program and its effectiveness. However, after just a few weeks, our neighborhood was seeing a decrease in criminal and mischievous activity, and after just a few months, the neighborhood is relatively quiet.
When the Shenandoah Neighborhood Watch began, our neighborhood was having approximately 3 to 4 incidents (give or take a few) per week. Our neighborhood now has zero incidents per week with just an occasional problem reported. It appears that with a little proactive involvement, we are able to deter problems in our neighborhood.
Again, I thank the Lafayette Parish Sheriff s Department, Sergeant Tom Stith, Deputy Darrell Doucet, and Deputy Elisa Foster, as well as all of the patrolling deputies, in helping to continue to make our neighborhood a safe haven for our families!
With kind regards, I remain
Very truly yours,
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Marguerite Fitzgerald, Shenandoah Neighborhood Watch Coordinator
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Home : Community Relations : News & Recognition
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Press Releases
Protect Your Child Against Bullies
Thursday, September 6, 2001
Bullying behavior might seem to be significant to some people, but it isn't. More than 160,000 kids skip school every day because of bullying.
What is bullying? It is actually a form of aggressive, violent behavior. Bullying occurs when someone repeatedly does or says things to gain power over another person, or to dominate them. Studies show that one in four children who bully have a criminal record before the age of 30.
Sheriff Neustrom says, "Although it isn't easy to define, bullying can take several forms: physical, emotional, verbal or a combination of these. It might involve one child bullying another, a group of children against a single child, or groups against other groups."
Recent data indicate that bullying is pervasive in most schools. Take a look at this:
The National Threat Assessment Center, run by the Secret Service, reported last fall that in more than two-thirds of 37 recent school shootings, the attackers felt "persecuted, bullies, threatened, attacked or injured."
The National School Safety Center estimates that there are more than 525,000 attacks, shakedowns, and robberies per month in public secondary schools in this country.
The NEA estimated that 28 million missed school days per year occur due to fear of attack or intimidation by a bully.
In a survey of 558 students in a midwestern middle school, researchers found that 80 percent of the students had engaged in bullying behaviors in the previous 30 days.
"Whatever form bullying takes," says Sheriff Neustrom, "it is destructive and unhealthy behavior."
Victims of bullying behavior are most likely targeted because of psychological traits more than physical traits. Typical victims tend to be shy, sensitive and insecure.
How can we recognize bullying behavior? Sheriff Neustrom cites the following examples of bullying:
Name-calling, put-downs, cruel teasing
Saying or writing nasty things about others
Deliberately excluding the victims from activities
Not talking to the victim
Threatening the victim with bodily harm
Hitting or kicking the victim
Making the victim do things they don't want to do
Donna Delahoussaye
Public Information Officer
Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office
(337) 236-5814 (337) 232-9211
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