The City of Jeanerette terminated its agreement with the Jeanerette City Marshal’s Office for law enforcement aid at Monday’s Board of Aldermen meeting.

Following several months of the Marshal’s Office working with the Jeanerette Police Department due to a staffing shortage at the JPD, Jeanerette Police Chief Dusty Vallot reported at the meeting that the department was now close to fully staffed.

“We were short staffed but now we are just about fully staffed,” Vallot said. “I want to thank the Marshal’s Office, when we were really short-staffed, he and his guys really helped us out.”

Vallot said there are four officers on staff for the police department currently, with one on medical leave until late June. When that officer gets back, a total of six officers, including Vallot, will be serving the city.

“We can handle it,” Vallot said.

The agreement with the Marshal’s Office was approved early this year following complaints from the police department about the staffing shortages. At the time, Vallot said he was handling weekday shifts alone while only being able to afford two other officers together on night and weekend shifts.

The Board of Aldermen began to pursue a deal with the Marshal’s Office, which Marshal Fernest “Pacman” Martin readily agreed to.

Martin said at Monday’s meeting he was happy to provide the service to the city. During the three months working with the city, Martin said his men performed over 40 arrests and worked two shootings in the city.

“It was a pleasure, I feel good about what we’ve done,” Martin said. “You don’t have to ask; this is our city too.”

Because the agreement was required to be renewed monthly, the board took no action which automatically terminates the agreement.