Morgan City police designate ‘Safe Exchange Zone’

Anyone looking for a safe place to pick up or deliver items from online transactions or to make child custody exchanges now has a site officially designated for those purposes in Morgan City.
On March 8, Morgan City police created a “safe zone” at the department on Myrtle Street for people to make child custody exchanges or internet purchase exchanges.
Morgan City police have always welcomed people using the police department as a safe place for those types of exchanges, Police Chief James Blair said.
“We just never officially reminded people that we are here,” Blair said. “I’ve seen it used in other areas and thought it would be a good service just to provide a location.”
The department has the personnel, cameras and parking lot necessary to provide the exchange zone, Blair said.
“It’s safer for them to come here than to meet people they don’t know (somewhere else),” Blair said referring to internet purchase exchanges.
The exchange zone can accommodate a place for safe exchange of small items, not larger items such as boats or other vehicles, Blair said.
There is “a call button” on a wall at the department where people can reach a dispatcher, Blair said. Morgan City police can be reached by phone at 985-380-4605.
Other area law enforcement agencies also offer similar safe exchange sites.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Spokeswoman Traci Landry said people may set up a safe exchange at the sheriff’s office by calling 985-384-1622 in Morgan City or 337-828-1960 in Franklin, and there will be a deputy available for that exchange.
“That’s what we’re here for. It’s just part of our general public safety services,” Landry said.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard said Berwick has “always done child custody exchanges” at its department as well.
People can call Berwick police and set up making the exchange in the lobby area in front of a police dispatcher, Richard said. Police normally let one party leave first, and then have the other party involved in custody exchange leave, he said. The lobby is under 24-hour surveillance.
Richard hasn’t had anyone inquire about Berwick police providing an internet purchase exchange zone, but would be interested in facilitating such a zone if someone wants that service, he said. The Berwick Police Department’s phone number is 985-384-7710.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle said Patterson police have helped with child custody exchanges for years, letting community members use its parking lot or office lobby.
LaSalle is open to assisting with internet purchase exchanges, too, he said.
“All you’ve got to do is call. We’ll assist them with that,” LaSalle said.
The Patterson Police Department can be reached at 985-395-6161.