AMY SZPARA

LAPLACE – This time last year the crime rate in St. John the Baptist Parish was significantly higher, but more sheriff’s deputies on patrol and an increase in citizen reports of suspicious activity have been attributed to the 24 percent decrease in crime during the first six months of 2001. However, authorities wonder if it will stay down during the hot summer months when people are outside more. “I’m satisfied with the first six months,” said Sheriff Wayne L. Jones, “but I remain cautious. The third quarter is an area of concern because kids are out of school for the summer and crime has a tendency to go up a little bit.” Jones said he was most satisfied with the violent crime statistics, which were significantly lower. During 2000, there were three homicides by June. This year there has been one homicide, which was a domestic violence case in January. A suspect was arrested in the case. There has been one rape reported, whereas last year there were no rapes reported as of June. According to SJPSO Capt. Mike Tregre, St. John Parish does not have a large number of rapes reported. There were 30 robberies by this time last year compared to 19 this year, and there were 159 burglaries by the midway mark last year and 125 this year. Assaults went from 261 to 239, and thefts from 532 to 348 in the first half. Motor vehicle theft did not significantly change, as there were 86 during the first six months last year and 85 this year. “We give credit to the patrol division and the narcotics division. We’ve been getting repeat offenders off the streets,” Jones said. Jones mentioned a new law which has him concerned about drug offenders. Possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine used to get the offender a mandatory five-year sentence. Now the law has been repealed. “The same charge is now left up to the judge’s discretion. They can get a fine, probation or jail time,” he said. “In the past, they would be locked up. These same people will be on probation and back on the streets. I wasn’t too happy to see that law back on the books.” Jones added that a lot of the vehicle thefts are “rock rides,” meaning drugs are exchanged for the use of one’s car and then the car is not returned promptly. It is called in as a theft, and the sheriff’s office has to respond and document it as a theft. “It’s not like you wake up and your car is not there. They loan it out for drugs and then they don’t return the car back. We have to report it as a theft,” said Jones. Chief Deputy Harold Klibert added, “Of course when they report it, they don’t tell us that. But the 24 percent decrease is a direct correlation to the fact that citizens in St. John are reporting suspicious activities in their neighborhoods. That is essential. We have the support of the citizens and the business community.” Klibert said the National Night Out Against Crime is scheduled to be held Aug. 7, and there are always a lot of parties and citizens supporting the efforts of police cracking down on crime. One problem that existed at the start of the year is now fizzling out, according to Klibert. Due to the large amount of subdivisions going up, burglars were breaking into homes that were 90 percent completed and taking anything that was not nailed down. “We do not see that continuing,” he said. “The contractors are following the suggestions that law enforcement has given them. We’re very, very pleased with what we see. Will we be sitting here in December talking about it in this way, who knows? “You have to keep in mind that school let out in May, and June, July and August are higher crime months. We have to step it up a bit.”