Councilman Dustin Suire said several constituents had been calling him about the state of the police department, which is set to go live July 1.  

During discussion of a resolution to appropriate $2 million in bond money into the New Iberia city budget at Tuesday’s council meeting, Councilman Dustin Suire asked New Iberia Mayor Freddie DeCourt about the status of the police department in wake of a recent rash of crime in in the city. 

“I have quite a few constituents calling in the past couple of weeks,” Suire said. “Basically, they want to know where we are right now as far as an update goes. Maybe you (DeCourt) can answer those, especially with all the violence that’s been going on. They want to know where we stand for July 1.”

The resolution, which passed unanimously, is part of the package the city plans to use to fund the NIPD. The half-cent sales tax passed in October is the other financial source, and the city is beginning to see revenue come in from both sources. 

DeCourt took the opportunity to address the City Council and concerned local residents about what to expect in the upcoming months concerning the police department, as well as how the department will approach the city’s crime problems. 

The mayor and a committee of residents interviewed applicants for jobs in the New Iberia Police Department earlier Tuesday. The mayor said the degree of qualifications was promising. 

“We’re building a total police department, meaning every facet of a police department,” DeCourt said. 

“I’m going to tell you that today was one of the happiest days I’ve had because we got to do interviews. The talent that’s coming in these room for this police department is exciting.”

The city plans for the NIPD to go live July 1. DeCourt said personnel will begin working two weeks before that date. 

The mayor stressed that crime won’t go away immediately, but the new police force was “going to be the path that makes it go away.”

“Every person is coming not for the money, but for what we have the opportunity to do. These men and women are coming and saying ‘I’m ready to give my heart and skills, and my years of experience to turn this community around,’ ” DeCourt said.

As for recent crime, DeCourt said he had to deal with three criminal incidents this week, which included his gas station being broken into, a brick thrown through one of his tenants’ windows and a car window smashed on another tenant’s vehicle.

“To my citizens, just hang in there,” DeCourt said. 

“We’re a great town. We’re going to get there. We’re spending $2 million tonight, plus there’s other money in the budget,” he said. 

“I want our citizens to please hang in there and please understand I don’t have an overnight fix, but I’m telling you we got a fix,” DeCourt said. 

“Just give us a little time to get in place and build those relationships and we’re going to fix this.”