IPSO Substation

Jeanerette Board of Aldermen unanimously approved the final agreement with the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office to locate a sheriff’s substation in Jeanerette.

Monday night, Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal pledged his support to aldermen to help fight crime in the city of Jeanerette.

“I’m not here to tell you that you have an incompetent police department. You are just overwhelmed with crime,” said Ackal.

“When I took the oath of office, it is to protect all 75,000 people in the parish. You need help and I am here to give that help.”

Detectives and narcotic agents will also be available to help the police department.

“We are looking forward to working with you,” he said.

Mayor Arthur Verret said the  additional service will be provided with no added expense to the city.

Ackal said he is dividing the parish into districts with two deputies being assigned to each district.

“This will give you two additional officers  that will be available for immediate response,” he said.

“We have a terrible mess on our hands. I am doing what I can to make sure residents are safe in their homes in Jeanerette.”

Ackal said it is important for residents to inform his office of what is going on  in their neighborhoods.

Patrolmen will be meeting with the Jeanerette Police Department to get familiar with city ordinances.

The four year agreement allows either party to withdraw with a 30 day written notice, Verret said.

The new substation, to be located in the old Jeanerette Police Station at 1437 Main St., will also include an administrative unit in which local residents can pay fines and conduct other administrative business.

The station, constructed in 1936, is being renovated with a $120,000 grant from the state treasurer’s office.

Ackal will use trustees to complete the renovation of the inside of the building.

Ackal said he is currently working to rebuild every aspect of the sheriff’s department.

“Everything has to be totally rebuilt -- from manpower, vehicles and boats,” said Ackal.

“We have $4.25 million, but I don’t know if that will be enough.”

Ackal  is in the process of buying new patrol cars and securing additional patrolmen.

“You are going to see more patrols as the men get out of the academy” he said.

In other business, a meeting was set for Thursday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m. to address concerns of residents over a cellular tower being constructed on the south end of Hebert Street.

Verret said he received a petition with 302 signatures of residents who were opposed to the location of the tower.

“Residents have concerns that the tower could contribute to cancer,” he said.

GemCom Incorporated has been instructed to stop the tower construction for now, he said.