Local chiefs staying alert after protests and shootings

Law enforcement agencies in St. Mary Parish are continuing their commitment to keep communities safe, while keeping a close eye on what’s happening elsewhere in the country in the aftermath of last week’s police-involved shootings, the sheriff and local police chiefs said.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said his office is paying close attention to what’s going on.
Since the shootings, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office’s daily operations have stayed mostly normal, Hebert said.
“We have taken some steps to ensure the safety of the public, the community, as well as officers here in the parish,” Hebert said.
The sheriff’s office in-creased patrols and staffing at the parish jail as “a precautionary measure,” Hebert said.
On Thursday, Micah John-son, a black Army veteran, is alleged to have fatally shot five Dallas police officers and wounded at least nine other officers and two civilians. Police eventually killed Johnson with a bomb after negotiations failed, The Associated Press reported.
The attack began Thursday evening during protests over the police killings of Philando Castile, who was fatally shot near St. Paul, Minnesota, and Alton Sterling, who was shot in Baton Rouge after being pinned to the pavement by two white officers, the article said.
“Our demeanor in the community will not change,” Hebert said. “We believe in community policing.”
Hebert will continue to take preventative action to stay ahead of any circumstances that would create “a heightened awareness” or anything out of the norm, he said.
“We’re here to protect the public, our staff and the justice system. And we have confidence in that system,” Hebert said.
The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office is on standby to assist any areas that may need help should the need arise, Hebert said.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair addressed his officers and asked them to continue to be professional and not “get caught up in the social media issues that are being posted.”
Blair sent some officers to a prayer vigil Sunday at Lawrence Park, and “it was a positive interaction with the public,” he said. Blair also asked reserve officers to do “ride-alongs” with regular officers during the next few days.
“But, other than that, we’re pretty much continuing business as usual,” Blair said.
Communities and police need to come together, Blair said. Morgan City has “small town issues” and hasn’t been affected by the issues that larger cities are facing.
“We always strive to maintain communication with the public. And we will continue to be a professional police department,” Blair said.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard said he talks with his officers every morning and has discussed the shootings that have taken place.
“Nothing’s changed here as far as any kind of procedural issue,” Richard said.
Berwick has never had any major problems in its interactions with the public, Richard said. But Richard stressed to officers that such incidents “can break out any place,” and they need to be aware of their surroundings.
In the aftermath of the shootings of police officers in Dallas, Berwick officers are concerned and disheartened, Richard said.
“They realize that that’s not what the greater number of people are like. The community where we’re at, here, overwhelmingly supports the police,” Richard said.
Richard hasn’t received any requests for Berwick officers’ assistance at protests or other events. Berwick police would be glad to assist if they do get those requests, Richard said.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle said his department is following the same guidelines they always have and have “made no changes whatsoever.” LaSalle is paying attention to what is happening in other areas, though.
LaSalle will attend a police chiefs’ conference in Lake Charles this week, “and many of these issues will be addressed there,” he said.