HNC deepening called into question
January 23, 2007Check It Out!
January 25, 2007
In Lafourche Parish, when nuisances arise, there’s one crew willing to answer the call: The POP Squad.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre recognized the accomplishments of his two-deputy squad, recently presenting Sgt. Richard Reidel and Deputy William Powell with Distinguished Service Awards.
Launched in the fall of 2003, the program gets good results and has received rave reviews from residents in Lafourche neighborhoods, said department spokesman Larry Weidel.
The POP approach n Problem-Oriented Policing n is an innovative idea that sends law enforcement teams into neighborhoods and high crime areas, he said. During peak activity hours, the POP Squad helps deputies patrol and investigate crimes.
The duo can sometimes be seen riding their bikes through neighborhoods talking to citizens and assisting them with quality of life issues.
A day on the job for the POP Squad includes a myriad of complaints from illegal dumping, speeding, loud noise or high grass complaints and curfew violations. But it can just as easily include investigating major problems like illegal drug activity and neighborhood thefts, Weidel said.
The squad is also sometimes called upon to assist narcotics agents, patrol deputies and detectives, he explained. “They move from neighborhood to neighborhood working with residents to disrupt and remove criminal activity from that neighborhood,” Weidel said.
And they can quickly find themselves staring down a criminal when a minor traffic stop reveals an outstanding warrant for the violator’s arrest.
Such was the case last Saturday when Reidel, a narcotics agent and leader of the POP Squad, saw a car pull up to a stop sign and then quickly speed away in reverse after spotting authorities.
When the car turned around, Reidel noticed the license plate lights were not working, so he activated his emergency lights and followed the fleeing vehicle, Weidel said.
The driver stopped, jumped out of the vehicle and ran through several back yards and over fences in an attempt to escape, the spokesman said. But when the man’s pants dropped to his ankles, he fell to the ground and was captured by Reidel.
The suspect, Germond Carter, 24, of 1015 Caroline St., Thibodaux, was in possession of marijuana and about 40 rocks of crack cocaine, Weidel said. The POP Squad also learned that Carter’s driver’s license had been suspended and he had no valid insurance, he noted.
Carter’s long criminal history includes drug violations, resisting arrest charges, armed robbery, simple battery and domestic abuse, Weidel said.
The Thibodaux man was transported to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux, and his bond was set at $30,850.
“This was a good example of the type of arrests the POP Squad makes,” Webre said. “Since their inception they have made over 550 arrests with more than 100 of those being for DWI and more than 200 arrests for illegal narcotics and weapons. The squad has issued 1,000 citations or summons for various traffic violations, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana.”
Last year, the POP Squad handled approximately 450 calls for service, logged 241 arrests, and issued more than 300 citations and summons, Weidel said.
In addition to working in troubled neighborhoods, Reidel and Powell have issued several warrants for non-compliant sex offenders and have successfully located a number of them, the spokesman said.
Sheriff Craig Webre presents Distinguished Service Awards to Sgt. Richard Reidel (middle) and Deputy William Powell (far left).
