New data shows there was a sharp decline in murders in Lafayette in 2024. Interim Lafayette Police Chief Paul Trouard granted an exclusive interview and explained what he credits with turning around the record-setting trend from just a year earlier. Not counting shootings involving police officers, Lafayette saw 15 murders last year compared to an all-time high of 29 in 2023. That’s a 46% drop. And all of last year’s murders have been closed with arrests. Chief Trouard credits the sharp decline in part to LPD finally getting close to fully staffed.