A STRONG TURNAROUND
October 4, 2018
Colonels jump up in FCS polls
October 4, 2018
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced that the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office is going to be promoting awareness of domestic violence throughout the month of October in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
This year’s theme is “Lafourche Parish Shines a Light on Domestic Violence.”
According to LPSO, domestic violence is one of the most underreported crimes and in 2017, LPSO responded to almost 1,500 calls related to the crime, which resulted in 665 protective orders being issued to victims of domestic violence who were seeking protection.
Last Tuesday, Lafourche Parish President Jimmy Cantrelle issued a proclamation declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Lafourche, coinciding with the recognition nationally.
Throughout October, LPSO urges people to wear purple, the official color of Domestic Violence Awareness Month to help bring awareness to the cause.
There will also be a vigil for domestic violence on Oct. 16 at the Lafourche Central Market in Raceland. WWL-TV anchor and reporter Kristin Pierce will be the guest speaker at the annual event, which is designed to remember the victims and honor and support the survivors of domestic violence.
The vigil is sponsored by LPSO, The Haven, the Lafourche Parish District Attorney’s Office and The P.A.C.T. Place Supervised Visitation and Monitored Exchange Center.
“The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office continues to lead the fight against domestic violence,” Webre said. “This year, we aided in the creation of a new law to implement a process statewide for identifying, notifying and tracking domestic abusers prohibited from possessing firearms. We are now teaching that process to other law enforcement agencies throughout the state.”
LPSO has been active in lawmaking to try and keep citizens safe.
In 2014, LPSO aided in the creation of the state law which prohibits those convicted of domestic abuse battery and those with qualifying protective orders from possessing firearms.
Since that time, there have been zero homicides in the state perpetrated by prohibited possessors in Lafourche Parish.
But the problem remains prevalent around the state. According to the Violence Policy Center, Louisiana ranks No. 2 in the country in homicide rate among female victims killed by male offenders in incidents which included one victim and one offender in the year 2016. Studies show that nearly 1 in every 4 women ages 18 or older have been the victim of physical violence by an intimate partner and domestic violence is still the No. 1 cause of injury to women in the country.
FMI about the vigil, please contact The P.A.C.T. Place at (985) 532-4390.
LSPO also would like to remind citizens that if they’re a victim of domestic violence, help is readily available. Contact LPSO’s Police Social Services Unit at (985) 449-4476.
