Add to S.M. police force

Published 6:00 am Tuesday, February 6, 2018

ST. MARTINVILLE — Five new police officers, one part-time and four reserves, will be added to St. Martinville Police Department’s ranks thanks to unanimous approval by St. Martinville City Council members Monday night.  

Deputy Chief Joseph Nedie requested the hiring of one part-time police officer and four reserve police officers at the meeting. 

Reserve officers, Nedie said, are not paid by the department, but rather serve voluntarily to help with officer duties. The position also can serve as a stepping stone for reserve officers who wish to advance their careers and become paid employees of the police department. 

“We need as many officers as we can get,” Nedie said. “These officers are donating their time. It will help us out a lot especially with back up and helping assist other officers. On weekend’s it’s really needed.”

Forty-four-year-old St. Martinville resident David Hotard, who is one of the newly appointed reserve police officers, said, “I’m doing it to help our town I plan on moving up to part time officer in the future.”

Mason Guidry, 24, is a new reserve police officer from Breaux Bridge, said that money is not his motivation for helping serve.

“I’m also a volunteer firefighter. I don’t do it for money. Eventually, if I get paid, that’s good but I do it because the community has given to me and I want to give something back to it.”

Also, in an effort to deter crime, the city is looking into the purchase of cameras that will serve in catching criminals in the act. Chris Thibodeaux of Acadian Home Protection discussed the topic of citywide cameras when he spoke to City Council members. 

Thibodeaux said there are certain factors working in the city’s favor in having them installed, the main factor being the city owns its own utility poles, which means city officials don’t have to go through CLECO or SLEMCO to have the work done. Thibodeaux also suggested the city could start with about five cameras in selected locations and expand from there.  

St. Martinville Mayor Thomas Nelson said the city has businesses interested in helping purchase the cameras and that city officials also will look for grant assistance. 

“The reason for the cameras is we have had a few shootings and we’re talking about putting up cameras this way we can see the whole town, whether it’s burglaries, robberies or any hotspot,” the mayor said. “If a crime occurs it will be on film.”

 ALSO ON THE AGENDA

In other St. Martinville City Council action Monday night:

• Matt Holland, Marketing and Events Coordinator for St. Martinville’s Cycle Zydeco event, made a request for a street closure, the use of festival grounds, Port-o-lets and a stage for the 600 to 700 people expected to attend this year’s event. The event will include cyclists traveling from New Iberia to Breaux Bridge. The St. Martinville location will include food vendors from around the area. The event is scheduled for April. 

• A pay request was approved in the amount of $78,318.19 to assist with renovations on the Sterling Alexander Building. Mayor Nelson said the city has spent more than $400,000 renovating the space. The mayor and City Council plan to play host to a grand opening for the facility after the fire marshal inspects the completed project.

• Danielle Fontenette with the African American Museum told City Council members about a special exhibit that will include displays by the Blackfoot and Attakapas Mardi Gras Indians and Mardi Gras krewes from around the area. The exhibit will kick off with a wine and cheese event at 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at the museum located at 123 S. New Market St.

• Seven-year-old Dailee Johnson of the Early Learning Center School in St. Martinville was recognized for reading excellence and presented a certificate from the mayor for reading 120 books in one day.  Dailee was escorted by her parents, Wanda and Delanny Johnson of St. Martinville.