The Lafayette Police Department has begun implementing tactics and strategies specifically designed to tackle the violence in Lafayette, as the number of homicides reached record levels in 2023.
“While our city has seen a decrease in overall crimes committed, we have witnessed a record number of homicides last year. Domestic violence, juvenile crimes, lack of proper conflict resolution, social media engagement, and several other factors have all contributed to these acts of deadly violence,” said Chief Judith Estorge in a video message via Facebook.
Lafayette Police Department investigated a total of 29 homicides in 2023, according to police information officer Robin Green. This was a record number compared to 22 homicides in 2022 and 25 homicides in 2021.
“Gun violence is a constant fight that our agency and many other communities are battling. This type of violence is a nationwide problem,” said Sgt. Robin Green.
Going forward into 2024, with the support of Mayor President Monique Blanco-Boulet, The Lafayette Police Department tactics include increased number of cameras in Lafayette with the placement of over 100 police cameras throughout the city, and deploying more officers to areas of high crime activity.