“In order to properly understand the big picture, everyone should fear becoming mentally clouded and obsessed with one small section of truth,” — Xun Zi, ancient Chinese philosopher.

We heard frequently some weeks ago from some involved with New Iberia city government and from a number of city residents who seemed convinced by reports of crimes around the city or because they didn’t observe patrols in their neighborhood as frequently as they thought they should, that the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office wasn’t fulfilling its obligations for providing law enforcement services to the city as called for in its contract.

Perhaps as Xun Zi warned they were focusing on small sections of the truth and not seeing the big picture.

New Iberia’s police liaison David Naquin said in a story in this newspaper last week how from his review of the IPSO’s efforts in the city, allegations that the Sheriff’s Office isn’t providing its required number of patrols was mostly inaccurate. “I haven’t seen any shortages,” Naquin said. He had reviewed duty rosters and concluded, “I can tell you they’ve been short a few times, but it’s not like it’s every day. You’re going to have instances where somebody calls in sick.”

Naquin, a former sheriff in St. Mary Parish who is now retired and working as the city’s liaison to the Sheriff’s Office, also commented on allegations that crime was up significantly in the city, that burglaries and thefts were surging, with the implication it was related to a lack of adequate service by the IPSO.

But Naquin said last week that based on his analysis so far, crime statistics show nothing abnormal from previous years. “There’s always a little (crime) spike in May and it levels back off. … If you run the annuals (reports) it pretty much follows the same pattern.”

And while some have suggested the city’s contract with the IPSO for law enforcement services was poorly constructed and left the city vulnerable to poor service from the IPSO, Naquin suggested it works reasonably well but needs some “tightening up.” He said it was likely a decent agreement when first outlined years ago, “But by today’s standards it just lacks a little bit.”

Naquin doesn’t make it sound as if the contract is overly one-sided in favor of the Sheriff’s Office and to the detriment of the city, though does make it clear in a new contract there are areas where it could be improved. That’s likely the case with any long-term agreement for services between two parties that from time to time needs to be updated.

It’s logical that those who have been victims of crime and those who live nearby would say, “Something’s got to be done,” calling for increased police patrols or other action. Hopefully those involved with New Iberia city government and city residents will be comforted a bit by Naquin’s comments, that for the most part New Iberia is getting the service called for in its contract with the IPSO and despite how it seems to some, reports of crime aren’t really that much different from previous years.

Any crime is too much but unfortunately it is just part of the way things are these days.

Hopefully Naquin can use his law enforcement experience and perspective to help the city and the IPSO each better understand the other’s issues and get both looking at the big picture about law enforcement in the city and not caught up by individual incidents or complaints.

WILL CHAPMAN

PUBLISHER