2009 "Kiss a Cop" Event
LPSO as well as other local agencies participated in the annual "Kiss a Cop" event hosted by Faith House. The event is held every October during Domestic Violence Awareness month.
The staff and residents of Faith House host "Kiss a Cop" and invite law enforcement to have dinner with the children currently residing at Faith House.
The purpose of the event is to show children that law enforcement are the "good guys", since the only prior experience many of them have had with law enforcement involved their response to a domestic violence incident.
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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
Safe and Sober Campaign Grant
Wednesday, October 17, 2001
Sheriff Michael W. Neustrom announces that the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office has received a Safe and Sober Campaign Grant from the LA Highway Safety Commission(LHSC). The grant will provide funds for additional Deputies to patrol during each wave of the campaign in order to increase safety belt usage and decrease impaired drivers. The first wave will include National Buckle-Up America Week November 19-26, 2001. According to LHSC Executive Director James E. Champagne, The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office is participating in this campaign as part of a comprehensive statewide effort involving over 100 law enforcement agencies. Sheriff Neustrom encourages passengers and drivers to “buckle-up” for safety and advises them that additional Deputies will be patrolling and specifically looking for violators of seat belt laws.
Louisiana Law R.S. 32:295 & 32:295:1 states that every driver and front seat passenger “shall have a safety belt properly fastened about his or her body at all times when the vehicle is in forward motion.” Any child under the age of 13 shall be secured, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instruction, in an age appropriate passenger restraint system. However, if a child is 3 to 12 years of age, securing the child in a lap belt or safety belt in a rear seat shall be sufficient. Fines for violations range from $50.00 to $100 and confiscation of license and suspension of driving privileges.
Sheriff Michael W. Neustrom and Deputies of the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season!
Donna Delahoussaye
Public Information Officer
Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office
(337) 236-5814 (337) 232-9211
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