In a move to address growing community concerns, the Zachary City Council hosted a Crime Prevention Workshop on Tuesday. 

At the heart of this workshop is the formation of a Citizen Advisory Council. This body will bring together diverse voices from the community to develop innovative solutions to local crime issues. The City Council plans to recommend members to the Police Chief Lawrence who will make the final decision on appointments. The idea behind this council is to have a body who can both bring community concerns directly to the Chief and also take messages from the Chief back to the community. The City Council will approve the exact language for this initiative in the coming weeks. 

The workshop also recognized the need for technological upgrades in law enforcement. There was discussion about expanding Zachary's use of Flock's ALPR system which is currently utilized in strategic areas across the city. Over 70% of crimes involve the use of a vehicle in some way. The ALPR system enables law enforcement to both view which vehicles were in an area at the time of a crime and receive flags when a certain vehicle crosses into the area. Additionally, we have previously written about the new fleet upgrade underway. 

Community engagement forms another pillar of the new safety approach. Expanded Neighborhood Watch programs will empower residents to play an active role in safeguarding their areas. The Chief has been reaching out to HOAs across the area to talk about how to get these programs started. If your neighborhood is interested in forming a Neighborhood Watch and you have not yet spoken with ZPD, give them a call and request a meeting. They want to hear from you! 

Recognizing that crime doesn't stop at city limits, Zachary will strengthen its ties with regional law enforcement agencies, fostering better information sharing and resource allocation. Additionally, ZPD has instituted a surge policy where extra officers can be called into particular areas for events or other reasons when a larger than normal police presence might be necessary.

As these initiatives roll out in the coming months, city officials encourage residents to stay informed and participate in community safety programs. For more detailed information and to watch the full meeting, you can visit the City of Zachary's Council Meeting Videos​ (City of Zachary)​​