One step made early on was a "Coffee with Cops" gathering that promoted community policing and showed the police want to hear from the public.

Brent Soirez lives on Jane Street. A native of New iberia, he moved about the country, settling in North Carolina for 30 years before returning to his home town in 2017.

Mary Mel Davis lives across town, on Ann Street. A lifelong New Iberia resident, she works for AT&T and has served on the Iberia Parish School Board.

But even though they live in very different neighborhoods and come from very different backgrounds, they both say the last eight months have brought a major difference in their environment. That’s why they said they were at the McDonald’s on Main Street bright and early Wednesday morning for the first “Coffee With Cops” gathering with members of the New Iberia Police Department.

“We needed something like this,” Soirez said. “For 30 years, when I was in Carolina, I would read online about the changes in New Iberia, when they took the police department away and crime exploded. I’m here today to show support for our police.”

Davis nodded in agreement.

“I’ve seen a difference,” she said. “The officers I have seen have been respectful. Before, they would come in and grab people. It was harrassment. The police now don’t throw people on the ground. It’s what I would expect from law enforcement.”

New Iberia Police Chief Todd D’Albor said he was pleased with the turnout for the first coffee klatch meeting. Aside from a table of morning regulars, about 20 other members of the community were on hand to meet with the half dozen police officers on hand.

“We want to make this a regular thing,” D’Albor said. “It’s always a good day when we get to talk to people.”

Company Director Kevin Gautreaux said this is the second city where he has launched the “Coffee with Cops” initiative and hopes to expand it to other areas.

“We started the program in Abbeville several months ago,” Gautreaux said. “This is our second one to get started. We hope to move on to other communities like Youngsville, St. Martinville and Broussard in the near future.”

Davis said she appreciated the opportunity to thank the officers and optimistic about the progress, but said she realizes there is still a long way to go.

“I used to walk downtown from my house,” she said. “People would say hi, and I would answer. I knew all of the children in the area because of my time on the school board. Now, since we added two apartment complexes, I don’t know who anyone is anymore. We used to be a family neighborhood, homeowners. Now that mixture has changed.”

For others, the fact that there is a more visible law enforcement presence in New Iberia is a great first step.

“I love that I hear sirens now,” Soirez said. “I remember hearing gunshots from my house on Jane Street when there was a shooting on Main Street. Now I hear sirens. I love sirens!”