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When the New Iberia Police Department was resurrected, Todd A. D’Albor, Chief of Police enjoyed his cup of coffee as patrols rolled out at 6 a.m. on Sunday, July 1, 2018.

At the one-year mark in 2019, the department showed increases in the rate of crimes being solved within city limits. The community was the big winner financially, as the department cost half a cent to the taxpayers.

And then COVID hit.

Like the other police agencies locally and across the nation, there were increases in domestic violence calls and other calls that at one time did not crack the top five.

As COVID rules were loosening, there were arrests for violating the new mandates as well as shootings taking place at establishments that were opened illegally.

By February of 2021, council members called for a town hall to address violence in New Iberia.

The department took on all of these challenges and met them with success. The crime solving statistics are up, and there is more community policing. D’Albor and his staff listened to community concerns and the officers are out more and getting to know residents during peaceful times.

“First and foremost, I’m very proud of the commitment from our Officers that continue to maximize their efforts and this shows with our current statistics of solving Major Crimes at an 87% solve rate” D’Albor said. “This is attributed to the relationship that we continue to build on.”

D’Albor said he is proud of the work with New Iberia Mayor Freddie DeCourt on the new “No more Silence, Stop Gun Violence” initative.

Officers attended “Neighborhood Watch” meetings and the department is going to holding their 2nd Annual “Hop with a Cop” event at Banks Street Park.

Being proactive extends to the school as well.

“We have built a strong relationship with our Iberia Parish School System and have three officers assigned to local schools to continue to be involved with our youth,” D’Albor said. “Our Officer traveled with NISH to Lake Charles to support our (high school) basketball team on their incredible season.”

The students are noticing and developing relationships with law enforcement that will extend past graduation.

“Engaging our youth is a priority for our agency, as we look to change the crime culture that has shown itself too many times in our City,” D’Albor said.

D’Albor has also implemented a program that helps officers work with the public.

The NIPD was originally dissolved in 2004.

When stats were released in 2019 showing the difference the department made after one year, DeCourt said, “You go down through the ranks, we are very blessed to have the people we have. They bust their butts every day for our community.”

D’Albor knows there will still be challenges.

“In the hardest times, our officers are committed to making a difference,” he added.