Crime in unincorporated Jefferson Parish down 6%, data shows | Crime/Police

Data shows that crime in unincorporated Jefferson Parish continued to decline in 2024 after reaching near-record lows in 2023.

According to statistics from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, crime fell 6% in the first six months of the year, compared to an 11% decline the previous year.

The agency reported declines in all seven major crime categories tracked by the FBI this year, including double-digit declines in murders, assaults and burglaries.

“While the perception of crime certainly continues to rise due to social media, the statistics speak for themselves,” Sheriff Joseph Lopinto said Wednesday as he praised the men and women of the department for their work to ensure the safety of residents.

The numbers do not include the communities of Kenner, Gretna, Harahan, Westwego, Grand Isle and Jean Lafitte, which have their own police departments, but do include areas such as Metairie, Marrero, Elmwood, Old Jefferson and River Ridge.

In neighboring New Orleans, police also reported declines in all crime categories except theft/shoplifting. In the first half of the year, New Orleans police reported a 41% drop in the city's murder rate and a 37% drop in nonfatal shootings.

The declines reflect nationwide trends. Data compiled by the FBI show similar declines in violent and property crimes nationwide in the first quarter of 2024.

For Nancy Pearson, retired former director of public affairs for the JPSO and now president of the River Ridge Community Association, the numbers are no surprise.

“We are fortunate not to have serious crime,” she said, pointing out that most residents' complaints relate to identity theft and similar crimes.

Solution rates

In the first six months of 2024, sheriff's detectives investigated 14 homicide cases, 26% fewer than in the same period in 2023.

According to Lopinto, the department has recorded a total of 16 murders as of Thursday, with arrests made in all but three cases.

“The solution rates were phenomenal,” he said.

Unsolved cases include the Shrewsbury triple murder, in which two women and a man were shot to death in a “homeless camp” in Old Jefferson on April 3.

The bodies of Mindy Ann Robert, 44, Marcey Vincent, 33, and Warren Fairley, 53, were discovered at the campsite, which was located at the back end of a vacant lot on Shrewsbury Road and obscured by overgrown trees and brush.

Investigators have so far failed to identify a suspect or a motive for the murders.

“We are always looking for information, eyewitnesses or anyone who has heard something about the case,” Lopinto said.

The other two murder cases in which no arrests were made are the shooting of 19-year-old Tyler Williams on January 22 near Westwego and the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Andrew Davis IV on August 17 in Harvey.

Specialized units

Lopinto attributed the declines in other crime categories to the department's clearance rates.

“When you make arrests, you prevent criminals from reoffending,” he said.

The sheriff also praised the department's special units, such as the anti-shoplifting unit.

“We have the businesses on board. They tell us when known shoplifters are in the store,” he said. “They call us ahead of time so we can be there when they walk out the door.”

A unit called the Strategic Engagement Team (SET) handles arrests for detectives, Lopinto said. When a detective obtains an arrest warrant in a burglary or theft case, the SET team is responsible for locating the suspect so investigators can move on to the next case.

Drones for first responders

Lopinto said he is watching the technology and how it can help the department keep crime rates low.

The sheriff's office already has a fleet of about 30 drones that are used in mapping crime scenes or searching for suspects, but Lopinto said he recently met with a company to discuss using drones for first response.

Traditional drones require visual contact with the operator nearby. Emergency response drones are devices that are strategically placed in the community and can be remotely controlled by two or three people from several kilometers away.

“If a 911 call comes in about a disturbance on the east bank, the drone is launched by a person on the west bank and can survey the scene and begin reporting details and communicating before officers arrive,” he said.

There are still questions about how the technology will be used, including checks with the Federal Aviation Administration for airspace clearance, but Lopinto said he is certainly looking into whether the service could be offered in Jefferson Parish.

“These drones are going to change everything. I have to use the technology to be able to answer service calls,” Lopinto said.