Lafayette Louisiana’s Police Chief Is Dealing with Crime Firsthand

Lafayette's Police Chief Judith Estorge issued a statement recently about the increase in the number of homicides in the city. Now comes word from KLFY that Chief Estorge spent Saturday on the streets of Lafayette's Downtown with the very officers that patrol that area.

Our sister station, KPEL, covered Chief Estorage's statement issued after the inauguration of new City-Parish President Monique Boulet about Estorage's plans to deal with the record 29 homicides that happened in the city of Lafayette in 2023.

While overall crime has gone down in the city of Lafayette, the number of homicides skyrocketed. She said in her statement,

The safety and well-being of our community is the number one goal of The Lafayette Police Department. And while it may not be easy, please know that we are working diligently to gain your trust, support, and cooperation.

KLFY was along this past Saturday night when Chief Estorge headed out to patrol the streets of Downtown with some of the officers who work these shifts.

She told Channel 10 that being out with the officers gives her even more information about where crime is happening and what types of crimes are happening firsthand. She adds it gives her even more perspective on the needs of officers and that area of town. She says that's something they are constantly evaluating.

Estorage told them,

It's a continual process. We are always evaluating manpower and allocation of manpower and shifting it as we need to.

Chief Estorge says it's obviously all about the safety of people and protection of them along with businesses.