The St Tammany Chamber hosted a State of Public Safety Luncheon yesterday at the Sadie Jane in Slidell.
Guest speakers included St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith and District Attorney Warren Montgomery, who discussed the criminal justice system in St. Tammany Parish.
Both men represent agencies that have been denied funding due to the inability of the parish to pass tax renewals or new taxes over a series of years and administrations.
DA Montgomery said he will attempt to secure additional funding for his office with a small proposed sales tax on the ballot this spring. As he spoke Montgomery used the idea of “Don’t defund the DA.” He said as a result of changes he has put in place more people who commit crimes in St Tammany are being apprehended, tried and convicted. The DA said the average age of cases has dropped 20% since he has been in office. And he said if his new tax is not passed he will lose more personnel and will not be able to try and successfully prosecute as many criminals.
Sheriff Randy Smith spoke about how his agency must continue to grow with the booming population. He pointed out his recent addition of a new criminal patrol district in the western end of St Tammany. He also spoke about the implementation of a new mobile crime unit and drone system.
Both men talked about their offices working together to make sure St Tammany remains one of the safest parishes in the state.
