By Stacey Plaisance / L’Observateur / January 20, 1999

GRAMERCY – Increased gang activity and drug traffic in Gramercy demand more community policing and pro-active law enforcement, said new Chief of Police Michael Kahl.

Gang intervention is a primary focus of Kahl, who took office at the first of the year. Territorial conflicts in the area involve shootings and illegaldrug use, and Kahl said community involvement is pertinent to rendering gang crime.

“We want to hold community meetings so people can get to know our officers and establish trust,” Kahl said. “The people need to know thatthey can talk to us without the threat that someone will find out.

“We can better defeat crime with 12,000 people compared to my nine,” he said. “The trust needs to be there, and that’s why I want the meetings.”Kahl said pro-active law enforcement tactics are necessary to establish a competitive police unit. He said more education and training of policeofficers is needed, and their salaries must be brought up to competitive standards.

“If we want to educate and train good officers and keep them here, we’ve got to pay them,” Kahl said. “We want professionalism and career-oriented officers with education, and we have to pay competitively.”Kahl said he has submitted two grant requests to hire two full-time officers. With two new officers, Kahl said he would be able to work onfurther training and education with his experienced officers.

The Gramercy Police Department consists of six full-time police officers, two part-time officers and one auxiliary officer.

“I want more officers on the streets to get where the crime is,” Kahl said.

“I’ve got them out on foot and bikes patrolling because they can see more that goes on. We’re trying to be more pro-active instead of just reactive.”Kahl said Mayor Ronald St. Pierre and members of the local governmenthave participated in several police patrols, and such involvement helps identify and resolve problems in the community.

“Having them ride along with the officers to see what goes on has been great, and it takes a tremendous load to have their support,” Kahl said. “Itmakes the community better when the local government knows what’s going on, and they have been great to work with.”To better equip the community against crime, Kahl said he is working with the Lafourche Regional Training Academy to train his officers on teaching crime education courses.

With the town of Gramercy growing and because further growth is expected, Kahl said he wants the community and his police unit to be prepared for any future challenges.

“There is tremendous growth coming, and more revenue and population brings more challenges,” he explained. “We want people on board for thesechallenges before the big growth. I want officers paid and trained well toget to the problems before they happen and deliver more quality work and professionalism to the community.”

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