Crime rates in unincorporated Jefferson County continue to decline in 2024 after hitting near record lows in 2023, according to the data.
Statistics released by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office show crime rates are down 6% in the first half of this year, after falling 11% last year.
The bureau reported that all seven major crime categories tracked by the FBI saw declines this year, including double-digit declines in murder, assault and theft.
“While social media certainly continues to increase perceptions of crime, the statistics speak for themselves,” Sheriff Joseph Lopinto said Wednesday, praising department employees for their work in keeping residents safe.
That figure doesn’t include the municipalities of Kenner, Gretna, Harahan, Westwego, Grand Isle and Jean Lafitte, which have their own police departments, but it does include areas such as Metairie, Marrero, Elmwood, Old Jefferson and River Ridge.
In neighboring New Orleans, police also reported declines in every crime category except theft/shoplifting. In the first half of the year, New Orleans police saw the city’s homicide rate fall by 41% and the number of non-fatal shootings fall by 37%.
The decline mirrors a trend seen nationwide: violent and property crimes across the country saw similar declines in the first quarter of 2024, according to data compiled by the FBI.
The numbers aren’t a surprise to Nancy Pearson, former JPSO Community Relations Division commander and current president of the River Ridge Community Association.
“We’re fortunate to not have any serious crime,” she said, noting most complaints from residents are about identity theft and similar crimes.
Resolution rate
In the first six months of 2024, sheriff’s detectives investigated 14 homicide cases, a 26% decrease from the same period in 2023.
As of Thursday, police had recorded a total of 16 homicide cases, with arrests made in all but three of the cases, Lopinto said.
“The resolution rate has been phenomenal,” he said.
Among the unsolved cases is the Shrewsbury triple homicide, in which two women and one man were shot to death on April 3 at a “homeless camp” in Old Jefferson.
Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office investigators at the scene of a triple homicide in a vacant lot near Shrewsbury Road and Barnes Street in Metairie on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (Photo by Chris Granger, Times-Picayune)
The bodies of Mindy Ann Roberts, 44, Marcy Vincent, 33, and Warren Fairley, 53, were found in a campsite hidden behind overgrown trees and shrubs at the back of a vacant lot on Shrewsbury Road.
Investigators have yet to identify a suspect or a motive for the murder.
“We’re always looking for information, witnesses or anyone who may have heard anything about this incident,” Lopinto said.
The other two homicides in which no arrests have been made are the Jan. 22 shooting death of 19-year-old Tyler Williams near Westwego and the Aug. 17 shooting death of 21-year-old Andrew Davis IV in Harvey.
Specialized Unit
Lopinto said police are to blame for the decline in solution rates in other areas of crime.
“If we make an arrest, we can prevent criminals from reoffending,” he said.
The sheriff also gave support to specialist police units, such as those focused on anti-shoplifting.
“We are notified when a shoplifter is in the store by the store and they call us in advance so we can be there when the shoplifter comes out,” he said.
A unit called the Strategic Engagement Team, or SET, is responsible for making arrests for detectives, Lopinto said. Once detectives obtain an arrest warrant for a robbery or theft case, the SET team is responsible for finding the suspect so investigators can move on to the next case.
Emergency Response Drones
Lopinto said he is looking at technology and how it can help the police department keep crime rates low.
The sheriff’s office already has about 30 drones that help with aerial surveillance to map crime scenes and search for suspects, but Lopinto said the office recently met with a company to discuss deploying drones for emergency response.
An unmanned quadcopter hovers to the right above the scene of a murder in Marrero in 2014. The drone took photos and video while detectives with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crime.
Traditional drones require a nearby, within line of sight operator. Emergency response drones are devices that can be strategically placed around the parish and remotely operated by two or three people from several miles away.
“If there’s a 911 call about a disturbance on the east bank, someone on the west bank can fly a drone, look over the scene before officers arrive, provide details and start making contact,” he said.
There are still questions to be answered about the use of the technology, including checking with the Federal Aviation Administration for airspace authorization, but Lopinto said he would definitely consider bringing the service to Jefferson County.
“These drones are revolutionary,” Lopinto said. “We have to use technology to respond to calls for service.”
