Coalition Partner Update # 3
Building Partnership & Coalition
SafeBR continues to grow with over 220 organizations and individuals that have come together to formally join the coalition. A list of partners can be found online at safebr.org/join. We urge any organizations or individuals interested in supporting, joining or learning more about the coalition to visit safebr.org.
Fundraising & Support
SafeBR is resourcing a 3-year funding strategy to leverage $65M toward the 3 Pillars of focus (~$50M in public funding and $15M in private investment). To date, we have identified over $7.5M for SafeBR and urge supporters to visit safebr.org/support to contribute.
Our next in-person coalition meeting, convening all partners, will be held on May 10th at 4:00 PM. At that time, we will share ways to engage, support initiatives, gather data, and much more. While SafeBR is not responsible for public safety, we believe through your partnership, we will drive focused investment of time and resources into making our community safer.
Core Pillar Updates
SafeBR will spark immediate action while building long-term solutions to support community safety, focusing on solutions that drive the three pillars of SafeBR:
Pillar 1.
New resources for law enforcement to enhance new and existing strategies proven effective in stopping violent crime as well as individual assistance for first responders injured in the line of duty.
EBR Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) Crime Trends Dashboard
To promote transparency, last year the Baton Rouge Police department launched its public facing Crime Trend DashBoard via the BRPD Web site www.brpd.com. The Dashboard provides up to date stats and data on crime in the city of Baton Rouge.
For more information on BRPD stats see link below:
https://ebrgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/eb93a3afad534c4498e02e78d3d74d98
Nathan Millard investigation and case
The National spotlight has been focused on this case and investigation in recent weeks. It has been troublesome and heartbreaking for our community and the family of Nathan Millard. SafeBR shares condolences for the family and all families who’ve suffered an unexpected loss.
SafeBR would like to compliment BRPD for their professionalism and for being proactive in resolving this case. Cameras in the downtown community helped BRPD Detectives track Nathan Millard’s movement as he left a bar in the downtown area and walked approximately 0.8 miles to the Greyhound bus station on Florida Blvd. Cameras are BRPD’s new “Eye Witness.” Through the use of camera footage, witness interviews and community support, BRPD determined that Millard died of an overdose. Millard’s body was removed from the house where the overdose occurred and his body was dumped at a separate location.
Three suspects were identified during the investigation. Derrick Perkins and Tiffany Guidry were booked for their involvement in the disposal of Millard’s body. Guidry was also arrested for prostitution. Tabbetha Barner is wanted for prostitution and for failure to seek assistance.
The attentive work of BRPD, EBR Coroner, and so many others helped to bring resolution to this matter. For this, SafeBR and its partners are appreciative.Page-Rice Camera Initiative
Thanks to over $200,000 in funds raised in support of the initiative, over 50 cameras have been purchased and are being installed in multiple Metro Council districts across the city. The initiative is working with the Baton Rouge Police Department, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s office and the ATF to identify top crime “hot spots” and the businesses nearest those intersections to donate cameras to those locations with the most urgent need.
Since our last update, $15,000 toward additional cameras have been greenlighted for installation in Tigerland and 2 cameras have been greenlighted for EBRSO in the Gardere area. The Baton Rouge Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice Foundation is accepting requests to be considered to receive a camera at no cost through its grant program and collecting donations for additional cameras. Please access the Page-Rice link on the SafeBR website to learn more (Support — SafeBR).
BRAF Civic Leadership Visit
The Baton Rouge Area Foundation hosted a site visit to the Baton Rouge Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center in March as part of their inaugural membership week. Invitees had the opportunity to learn about how BRPD leverages data (including use of cameras from the Page/Rice Initiative) to keep our community safer, interface directly with Chief Paul and other leaders at
BRPD, and connect with other community members focused on making a safer Baton Rouge.
As a member of SafeBR, BRAF is exposing its members to current technology to understand what is available to our LEO today. Additionally, providing connections through SafeBR on supporting technology needs like the Page-Rice camera initiative and Real Time Crime Center are crucial to long-term success in reducing crime in the city and parish.
Participant Adrian Owen Jones said “Have you ever been in a command center that is leveraging real-time data to make decisions? Today, I got to visit the Baton Rouge Police Department Real-Time Crime Lab and it was like something out of a Bond film! I was truly surprised by their data-driven yet community-focused approach.”
Pillar 2.
Community investment in evidence-based strategies to disrupt the cycle of crime and violence.
City-Parish Seminar and Field Trip Discovery and Download
On March 6-9, BR stakeholders from public safety initiatives participated in Cities United’s “Roadmap Academy”. As mentioned in previous updates, SafeBR representatives joined the team that traveled to Louisville, KY in an effort to better coordinate and plan this work, and will continue to be on the lead coalition to develop a community Public Roadmap for Baton Rouge rooted in using community-based alternatives to prevent and intervene in crime.
After download and discovery with all attendees, efforts toward building evidence-base solutions have been discussed in the following areas:
Intervention and Outreach
Street Outreach
Hospital-Based Violence Intervention
Coordinated Crisis Team
Diversion/Alternative Pathways
Collaborative Public Safety Funding Models (SafeBR’s greatest opportunity to support the initiative)
Example Plans:
Review City of Baltimore Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan
Plans are rooted in using community-based alternatives to prevent and intervene in crime.
East Baton Rouge Public Safety Plan Update
A coalition of law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and community workers have announced the East Baton Rouge Public Safety Partnership, an action plan with the Department of Justice to reduce gun violence throughout the parish.
The partnership includes all federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in EBR, US Attorney’s and District Attorney’s Office, Safe, Hopeful, Healthy BR, and the Mayor-President's office. The partners first began developing and implementing the plan in March 2022, meeting bi-weekly throughout the year to set goals and strengthen our collaboration and coordinated efforts.
The action plan is a more informed, collaborative, and intelligent approach to understanding and addressing the long-standing impacts of gun violence in East Baton Rouge Parish.
For more information see the link below: East Baton Rouge Public Safety Plan | Baton Rouge, LA (brla.gov)As this initiative launches, SafeBR has been provided a seat at the planning table and we’re thankful to partner with this impactful effort.
Pillar 3.
Accountability and transparency for the entire system of justice and our collective investments
Commander’s COMSTAT Meeting
Members of the SafeBR Working Group were recently invited and provided the opportunity to witness A LEO Commander’s COMSTAT meeting. The SafeBR team came away overly impressed and gained a better understanding of how they manage, leverage, and utilize data. For the first time, SafeBR leaders were allowed inside the bubble. The overall goal of the Commander’s COMSTAT Meeting is to review data and make hotspot decisions on crime.
Additional Updates
SafeBR would like to recognize and honor the lives of the two Baton Rouge police officers, Sgt. David Poirrier and Cpl. Scotty Canezaro, who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday, March 26. Poirrier is a 17-year veteran, and Canezaro is a 16-year veteran with the department, and both were assigned to the Air Support Unit. SafeBR shares its condolences for their families and fellow officers during this time.
Officials stated there will be a joint memorial service for Cpl. Scotty Canezaro, 38, and Sgt. David Poirrier, 47 at Istrouma Baptist Church on Thursday, April 6 (10500 Sam Rushing Drive). Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The memorial service will start promptly at 11 a.m. The public is invited to attend.
As stated above, the Coalition is planning a SafeBR Partner event on May 10 at 4:00 pm (location TBD) where the Working Group and community leaders will provide more robust reports and updates demonstrating the impact of our effort since launch. More details soon but please mark your calendars!
Thank you for your continued support!