Gretna, La. -
It's been a relatively quiet first six months of the year in Jefferson Parish.
With only 11 murders, compared to 23 this time last year, Sheriff Newell Normand says things are looking good. But Normand admits, he can't take all the credit.
Most murders involve a conflict between two people. So the sheriff says, perhaps fewer people are getting into conflicts. Still, there are strategies the Sheriff's Office can employ to help reduce crime.
"We're meeting with the community groups in the hot areas. They're providing information to us. We have a very healthy relationship. It's very much two way -- we share the results of what we're doing with them," Normand explained.
When people feel more comfortable with the police and in their own neighborhoods, Normand says, crime often drops.
The sheriff has also implemented a new way of thinking within JPSO. It's called the horizontal approach. It essentially means everyone is cross-trained and shares the same responsibility to reduce the violence.
Normand explains how it works with new recruits, saying, "We send them to the bureau for short stints with all of the sections in the bureau. So they'll spend some time in narcotics. They'll touch intelligence. They'll touch the Criminal Intelligence Center. They'll spend time in the burglary unit."
Having a better understanding of the workings of each department helps deputies and investigators -- they can share information and help each other connect the dots.
Plus, sparing no expense when it comes to solving a murder doesn't hurt either.
JPSO Captain Steve Buras explains, "When we have a homicide, we will use whatever resources we have available -- whatever we need to solve the problem, whether it be two people or three people or whatever."
The solve rate in Jefferson Parish for murders stands at 80 percent. The average around the country is only about 60 percent.
Normand says the biggest challenge his homicide detectives face is convincing witnesses to come forward.
"We have recalcitrant witnesses that don't want to participate in an investigation. Then we have, legitimately we have, witnesses who have fear," the sheriff explained.
Reducing the fear of both the criminal justice system and of retaliation from others is something that Normand says his department will continue to work on, every day.
While the homicide rate has dropped in the parish, other crimes appear to be on the rise, including rape and robbery.
Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand
