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The Houma Police and Houma-Terrebonne Housing Authority (HTHA) inked a deal Friday that will open a police substation at Senator Circle, the East Houma public housing community.
HTHA is allowing the police department to utilize the facility on a full-time basis at no cost, including utilities.
“From the very first moment I became parish president, councilman Alvin Tillman and [HTHA] executive director Wayne Thibodeaux have indicated that this is something that is sorely needed,” said Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet. “I’m thankful we have been able to make this a reality thanks to the efforts of both of those individuals as well as [Houma Police Department] Chief Todd Duplantis and our Public Safety Administrator Ralph Mitchell.”
Duplantis said the Eastside Substation will reduce officers’ travel time.
“Instead of having [officers] report to the police station, we will allow them to report to that substation, which will enable more visibility in the community and in that area of town,” he said. “It’ll be a location to where [officers] can do reports, they can take breaks, they can handle complaints from that location and they’re not going to be required to come across [to the main station].”
Thibodeaux added police will be able to respond to emergency situations faster than they could before.
“They won’t have to go through the tunnel. They won’t have to go over the high-rise bridge,” he added. “Now, the presence is there already. They’ll deploy from the site, and that cuts down on a lot of the time that would be required if they had to come from [the main station on] 500 Honduras St.”
Thibodeaux said added police presence in Senator Circle is also a benefit.
“Our citizens can be insured there will be a greater sense of security for their families, and it immediately makes Senator Circle a better community for that fact,” he said.
“The entire citizenship on the east side of town is going to benefit from the response times and the effort, efficiency and effectiveness of the Houma Police Department being able to respond quicker to that side of town,” said Thibodeaux.
Houma-Terrebonne Housing Authority Executive Director Wayne Thibodeaux (right) looks on as Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet signs an agreement for a Houma Police Department substation inside Senator Circle. RICHARD FISCHER
