“Serving the community with courtesy, professionalism and respect.”www.lafayettesheriff.com

Message from Sheriff Michael W. Neustrom

Inside this issue:Explorers Post 500Seeking New Members

Lafayette Parish Sheriff ’sAnnual Report Available

Lafayette Parish Sheriff ’sAviation Unit

Tipsy Taxi Information

Are You OK Phone Reassurance System Registrations

Crash Course

Sheriff Michael W. Neustrom

(cont’d on page 4)

TheLafayetteParishSheriff’sOfficehasjoinedthehundredsoflawenforcementagenciesthroughoutthecountrythatareutilizingtheLeadsOnlineprogramtorecoverstolenproperty. HaveyoueverwonderedhowInvestigatorsnavigatethemountainsofpaperwork,multiplestorevisitsandleadstorecoverstolenitemsthatmayhavebeenpawned?Welluntillastyear,datawasloggedbypawnshopslocatedinLafayetteParishandthensubmittedtotheLafayetteParishSheriff’sOfficeforprocessing.OnedeputywasassignedthetaskofenteringandmaintainingallofthedatafrompawnshopsintheCityofLafayetteandsurroundingtowns.Thedatabasewasthenreviewedbyinvestigatorsworkingpropertycrimes.Informationwasenteredasquicklyaspossible,buttheturnaroundtimewasnot“live.” With thenewLeadsOnlinesystem, theLafayetteParishSheriff’sOfficewasable toreassign theDeputypreviouslyenteringdatabecausetheinformationisnowenteredonlinebythepawnshops.Thedelaytimethatpreviouslyoccurredwiththemanualtransferofpaperworkandthenenteringinformationintothelawenforcementdatabasehasbeeneliminated. Information isonlyaccessiblebyauthorized lawenforcementofficials,but theinformationis“live”andincludesinformationfrompawnshopsthroughouttheUnitedStates. DuringtheinitialtestingphaseforLeadsOnline,theLafayetteParishSheriff’sOfficereceivedinformationaboutequipmentthatwasstolenfromalocalconstructionsiteandbeingpawnedinanotherareaofthestate.Asaresultof that lead,asuspectwasarrestedand theequipmentwasrecovered.Further investigation ledLPSODetectivestolinkthesamesuspecttoseveraladditionalconstructionsitetheftsthatoccurredinLafayetteParish. A recent incident involveda reportof a theftof a ringvaluedatover$4,000.The ringwas immediatelyrecoveredwhenthesuspectattemptedtopawntheitem.ThefirstsevenmonthsoftheLafayetteParishSheriff’sOfficeutilizingtheLeadsOnlinesystemcanbelinkedtotherecoveryofpropertyvaluedatover$20,000. CaptainDebbieBrasseaux,CriminalInvestigationsCommander,hasbeenpleasedwiththisnewtool.“OurInvestigatorshavebeenimpressedwiththisLeadsOnlinesystem.The“realtime”dataandnationwideconnectivityarethemostvaluableitemsthatthesystemprovides.” PawnShopownersalsolikethenewsystem.Manyhavestatedthatthissystemhelpsthemtocomplywiththeirmandatedreportingrequirements.Mostpawnshopcustomersarehonestandaresubmittingtheirownpropertyatpawnshops,butthosethatbreakthelawarebeingcaught.WithLeadsOnline,morepropertycrimecasesarebeingsolvedquicklywhichallowsmorepropertytoberecoveredandreturnedtoowners.

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Summer time, HurricaneSeason, vacations, and schoolis out! Time to take a look atsafety! Working together withseveral communitypa r t ne r s we havedeveloped a coupleof new programs toimprove safety. OurCrash Course program willbevisiting allLafayetteParishHighSchoolsbeginninginAugust2007.Thisprogramisdesignedtoeducateyoungdrivers about thedangersofunderagedrinkingandimpaireddriving.

Tipsy Taxiwillprovideafreetaxi ridehome(withinLafayetteParish)forcitizenswhohavebeendrinking.Programinformationand

vouchershavebeendistributedtobars and restaurants

throughout the parish.If you would like more

information about thisprogram please call

236-5657extension31. Another hurricane seasonis upon us! Our Deputies havebeenworking togetherwithourpublic safetypartners topreparefor this season.We remind youto have a plan for evacuating,

includingacommunicationsplantokeepintouchwithrelativesandemployees,beforeastormisuponus.Takethetimenowtochecktomake sure your phone numbersof family members, insuranceagents,doctorsandothercontactsareaccurateandplacethatphonelist inyourfileof items to takewithyouwhenevacuating.Filethe important papers together,and prepare your home for thatpossible storm. Don’t forgetaboutyourpets–haveaplan! CongratulationstoDetectivesAlex Montgomery and RonHarriswhohaverecentlyreceived

communityawardsfortheirhardwork and dedication to publicsafety!Additionalcongratulations

SPRING 2007 ISSUE

Page 2 LAFAYETTE SHERIFF

Did you know?Emergency vehicles

always have the right of way! When an authorized emergency vehicle using audible or visual signals approaches you, it is important to recognize that the emergency vehicle has the right of way. You should yield the right of way and im-mediately drive to a position parallel to the right-hand edge or curb. Stay in that position until the emergency vehicle has passed. When driving on an interstate with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction as an emergency vehicle, slow down to a speed of 25mph and merge into the lane farthest from the emergency vehicle. Continue at 25mph until it is safe to proceed at the posted speed limit. When driving on a two-lane road, you should slow down to a speed of 25mph unless the posted speed limit is lower, and continue to operate at that speed until it is safe to resume driving at the posted speed limit. The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and the LA Highway Safety Commission reminds drivers that it is important to give an emergency vehicle the right of way because that vehicle’s timing could mean life or death in an emergency situation.

Information reprinted from the Banner-Democrat in Lake Providence, LA with permission from the La Highway Safety Commission.

Shooting Range Available for Public Use

Detective Alex Montgomery received the Deputy of the Year Award from the Lafayette Advisory Committee on Crime Prevention. Detec-tive Montgomery is a Juvenile Investigator serving the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office for 22 years. L-R Detective Alex Montgomery & Major Art LeBreton.

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office’s Explorer Unit is nowrecruitingnewmembers.Studentsranginginagefrom14–20yearswhoareinthe9thgradeoraboveareeligibletojointhisvolunteerunit.TheLafayetteParishSheriff’sOfficewillprovideauniformandtraining. Explorers assist the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office at localevents, helping with parking and other non enforcement duties,mostlyinamonitoringcapacity.Ifyouareinterestedinacareerinlawenforcement,oryouliketoassistyourcommunity–thisgroupisforyou! Applications for the Explorer Unit can be picked up at theLafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office 316West Main Street or theSheriff ’s Community Training Center 111 South StAntoineStreet.Applications will also be available on our website www.lafayettesheriff.com. For additional information please call236-3947.

Explorers Post 500 Seeking New Members

Detective Ron Harris recently received the Crimestoppers Deputy of the Year Award. Detective Harris has served the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office for over 20 years, currently as an Investigator in the Property Crimes Department. Picture L-R Sgt Barry Shaw, Captain Debbie Brasseaux, Detective Harris, Sheriff Mike Neustrom, & Lt. Craig Stansbury.

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office ShootingRange is available for public use duringspecifiedperiods.AccesstotherangewillbelimitedtothosecitizenswhoqualifythroughLPSO’sregistrationprocess. Pleasecall337-236-5607foradditionalinformationorsendanemailtotraining@lafayettesheriff.com.

Congratulations to Deputy Scott Haydel Deputy’s Choice for Patrol Officer of the Year 2006!

LAFAYETTE SHERIFF Page 3

Sheriff’s Office Annual Report Now Available

TheLafayetteParishSheriff’sOffice’s2006AnnualReportisnowavailable.Copieshavebeendistributedtoall city halls in Lafayette Parish and are also availableat all Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office facilities. Inaddition,theannualreportcanbeviewedonourwebsitewww.lafayettesheriff.com.

OneoftheLafayetteParishSheriff’sOffice’s“hiddentreasures”istheAviationUnit.TheLafayetteParishSheriff’sOfficeAviationUnitincludestheMauleMXT-7-180AaircraftandDeputieswhoserveasobserversandpilots.Ourpilotsareunpaidvolunteers–ReserveDeputieswhovolunteertheirtimeandspecialskillstohelpthecommunity. ArecentadditiontotheLafayetteParishSheriff’sOffice’sAviationUnitisaSkyPackremoteoperateddaylightandinfraredcamerasystem.ThisSkyPacksystemwaspurchasedwithregionalHomelandSecuritygrantfunds,whichareadministeredthroughtheLafayetteParishOfficeofHomelandSecurityandEmergencyPreparedness.

Deputy Marjoria Trailer has recently completed teaching the Junior Achieve-ment curriculum to Mrs. Jennifer Carpenter’s 1st grade class at JW Faulk Elementary School.

Aviation Unit Works to Keep Lafayette Parish Safe

AviationUnitoperations for theLafayetteParishSheriff’sOfficeincludesearchand rescue, surveillance,aerialphotography, accidentinvestigations,trafficcontrolduringhurricaneevacuationsorotherhightraffic incidents, and crowd control during festivals and Mardi Gras.TheAviationUnitmustbeavailable to respondquickly toassist lawenforcementwithsearchesthatrequirerapidresponsesuchassearchesformissingchildrenorfugitives.Theunithasassistedwithmanycriticalincidents over the years and is also available to assist neighboringjurisdictionswhenrequested.LafayetteParishisveryluckytohavesuchavaluableresourceavailabletoassistwithkeepingourcommunitysafe!

Tipsy Taxi Now Available in Lafayette Parish

ThenewTipsyTaxiprogramisnowrollinginLafayetteParish.Participatingrestaurantsandbarsareequippedwithvouchers tooffera free taxi ridehome (withinLafayetteParish) tocustomerswhohavebeendrinkingandcannotsafelydrivehome. TheAcadianaareahashistoricallyexperiencedhighcrashratesandfatalities involvingimpaireddrivers.TipsyTaxiwasdevelopedbyagroupofcommunitypartnerswhoareworkingtogethertostopthispattern.Theideabehindtheprogramistoprovideafree,safealternativetoimpaireddriving. IfyouareaLafayetteParishrestaurantorbarthatwouldlike toparticipatein theTipsyTaxiprogram pleaseca l l 236-5657extension31. P lease ber e s p o n s i b l e –DesignateaDriverand use TipsyTaxi!

Page 4 LAFAYETTE SHERIFF

LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE

316W.MainSt.P.O.Drawer3508

Lafayette,LA70502

PRSRT STD.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit No. 176Lafayette, LA

MAILINGLABELADDRESSCITY,STATE,ZIP

Sgt.DaleThomas leads runners from theLafayetteParishSheriff’sOffice, Lafayette Police Department, Lafayette City Marshal’s OfficeandtheULPoliceDepartmentastheybeginthetorchruntoHammond.LPSODeputiesjoiningSgtThomasincludedDeputyW.L.Davis,Deputy

2007 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics

The Lafayette ParishS h e r i f f ’ s O f f i c e h a srecently upgraded its Are You Ok computer generatedTelephone ReassuranceSystem.ApplicationsarenowbeingacceptedfromLafayetteParish residents who wouldliketoparticipateinthisfreeprogram. This f ree service isdesigned to assist elderlymembers of the communitywholivealoneandwouldliketo receiveadailyphonecallto check to make sure theyareok.ParticipantsreceiveacalleachdayfromtheAre You

Ok computera t a p r e -determinedtime. If thec o m p u t e r

Register now for the Are You OKTelephone Reassurance System

MicahEugene,andDeputyReginald Taylor. Lawenforcementofficials fromtheentirecountryparticipatein torch runs each year toraisemoneyandawarenessforSpecialOlympics.

totheseDeputies:SuzanneEason,GeorgeCrowderandJudyKernwhoareourlatestDeputyoftheQuarterrecipients. La faye t t e Pa r i sh i s awonderfulplace!Weareworkinghard to provide high qualitypublic safety to make this thesafestplaceinLouisiana!

(cont’d from page 1)Sheriff’s Message

Crash Course Coming to School Crash CoursewillbecomingtoalllocalhighschoolsbeginninginAugust!TheLafayetteParishSheriff’sOfficeispresentingCrash Coursetolocalstudentsinanefforttoreduceunderagedrinkingandimpaireddriving.Crash CoursefundingpartnersincludetheJr.LeagueofLafayette,LafayetteParishSchoolSystem-SafeSchoolsHealthy Students, and the LA Highway Safety Commission’s

A c a d i a n aTransportationSafetyCoalition.For additionali n f o r m a t i o nand schedulingplease call Lt.RonRobicheauxat337-236-5657extension21.

calls and gets no answer, analarmsoundsatthecomputerterminal, alert ing LPSOCommunications personnelofapossibleemergency. IfyouwouldliketoregisterfortheAre You Okprogramorifyouhaveadditionalquestions,pleasecallDeputyPatFaulatourCommunityServicesUnit236-5657extension28.