15 Year Service Award Recipient
Congratulations to Lt. Kevin Savant for 15 Years of dedicated service to LPSO and the Citizens of Lafayette Parish.
Lt. Savant is a supervisor within the LPSO Patrol Divison.
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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 pro¬active 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 : Press Releases
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Press Releases
Prepare for Safe Shopping
Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Anxious shoppers and retailers alike look forward to this day all year, the day after Thanksgiving. It’s usually the biggest Christmas shopping day of the year. And this year will be no different. Shoppers are making their lists and checking them twice. But, they are probably neglecting to check their safety. Just how safe is shopping at this time of the year? Shopping can be as safe as any time of year with a few simple precautions – as simple as “Don’t shop alone”.
This time of year has a tendency to attract more shopping-related criminal activity because of larger crowds and extended store hours. These factors, combined with the usual distractions related to shopping, create a more favorable environment for petty thieves and other offenders.
In light of these factors, Sheriff Neustrom warns shoppers to be on their guard so that they do not become one of the tens of millions of people a year who are victimized by some sort of criminal activity. Across the U. S., malls and shopping centers are heightening security measures by hiring additional security personnel and installing surveillance cameras in areas such as parking lots and entrances. Retailers are doing their part, so shoppers should take time to prepare to have a safe shopping experience.
“Unfortunately, when shopping, people sometimes have a tendency to become distracted and lose sight of their personal safety,” said Sheriff Neustrom. “However, there are several precautions busy shoppers can take to help eliminate their chances of becoming a crime statistic.”
Those safety precautions include:
· Always shop with another person. A single shopper is the ultimate target for theft.
· When going shopping, make sure you tell someone where you are going and what time you expect to return home. Purchase and use a cell phone.
· Plan ahead. If you know you are going to return to your car after nightfall, park in a well-lit area. Note your parking place. Parking lots have a tendency to look very different as cars come and go.
· If you are in a store and sense that you are being followed, locate a store employee or security personnel. Be prepared to give a complete description of the person you suspect.
· If carrying cash, keep it in a front pocket. This makes it more difficult for a pickpocket to remove your money.
· Store car keys in a pant or jacket pocket. If your purse is stolen, you will still be able to drive home.
· Take only one or two credit cards and a couple of checks with you.
· Make a list of all credit card numbers and the numbers to call in case they are lost or stolen. This will make the incident a lot easier to report.
· If you feel uneasy returning to your car alone, find a security guard and ask him to walk you to your car.
· When returning to your car, be aware of your surroundings, look around the parking lot for any suspicious activity, when you reach your vehicle, check around it and in the back seat.
· Have your car keys in your hand to avoid spending unnecessary time unprotected from the security of your vehicle. Lock your doors as soon as you enter your vehicle.
Sheriff Neustrom concluded, “By taking these simple, safety precautions, you are kicking off your holiday season in a responsible, savvy way. Don’t let some would-be criminal ruin your holiday season. Take responsibility for your own safety! Be on guard!
Donna Delahoussaye
Public Information Officer
Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office
(337) 236-5814 (337) 232-9211
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