Baton Rouge will receive $64 million in federal funding to combat violent crime in the city’s largest parish as federal and state officials continue addressing safety concerns in Louisiana.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced at a Nov. 4 news conference that four communities will be awarded a total of $300 million through the Model Cities Initiative, building on efforts to reduce violent crime in America.
Along with East Baton Rouge Parish, federal funding will go to Jacksonville, Florida; Jackson, Mississippi; and St. Louis, Missouri.
Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that 47 communities applied for the grant funding, which will provide extra patrol officers and upgraded technology to police departments.
“Between 2021 and 2025, police responded to more than 1,300 nonfatal shootings and more than 12,000 shots-fired calls,” Blanche said.
“And we’re here today to address this problem, to tell moms and children here in Baton Rouge and across the parish that we’re here to help, and to tell those involved in criminal activities that this sort of violent behavior will not be tolerated in East Baton Rouge Parish.”
The DOJ initiative was announced in June following successful reductions of violent crime in Memphis and Washington.
Law enforcement departments can use the funding across a wide range of projects, and it comes at an important time for Baton Rouge.
Madison Harris, a 13-year-old Baton Rouge girl, was fatally shot on Oct. 30. Police found her unresponsive in a vehicle on East Mason Avenue.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said Baton Rouge children have been hit hard by homicides in the past two years.
“We’ve lost two 8-year-olds, a 12-year-old, and two 3-year-olds. That’s very sobering,” Murrill said during the press conference.
Blanche said funds will help departments upgrade technology, expand patrol and investigation capabilities and hire more prosecutors.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said the state has been working to curtail violent crime in the area.
Earlier this year, through Operation Red Stick, Landry said 185 felons were arrested, 100 fugitives were captured, and 45 weapons were seized as part of a continued effort to reduce crime.
“It is because of the work of the federal government that we were able to put on that operation this year. … East Baton Rouge’s homicide rates are down to some of the lowest they’ve ever been,” Landry said.
The goal, Landry said, is to make East Baton Rouge Parish one of the safest communities in America.
“Every Louisianan deserves to be safe in their neighborhood,” Landry said.
