Breaux Bridge leans toward law and order

Law and order took center stage at the City Council meeting here Monday, Aug. 11.
On the one hand was the news that Breaux Bridge, in a study by realtors based on FBI crime statistics, ranked ninth safest city in the state with populations of 7,000 and up – and would’ve ranked in the top five but for a homicide in 2012, said Chief of Police P.J. Hebert.
On the other hand is the resoluteness of the council to uphold its law against drinking in the streets in the face of social pressures to make some exceptions.
The latter matter was broached by Mayor Jack Dale Delhomme, who said he received a request from the Downtown Merchants Association that the police issue warnings rather than tickets if and when they see visitors to an upcoming art walk on the public sidewalk with alcoholic drinks in their hands.
Delhomme said he sympathized with the effort to bring tourists to town but fears that official leniency would “open a can of worms.”
Councilman Gary “Bimmie” Champagne was unequivocal on the issue. “If the ordinance is good for one, it’s good for everybody,” he said. “I am not one to bend the rules.”
The city’s open-container ordinance applies within 200 yards of a bar or restaurant, which means public imbibing at the annual Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival is not bending the rules, noted city attorney Chester Cedars.
Chief Hebert reported that a total of 471 complaints were taken by BBPD during the period from July 12 through Aug. 8. Citations issued were 38 and arrests made 21. No narcotics arrests were made, Hebert said, because the force is down six people and the dedicated narcotics agent has had to pull other duty.
In reporting the high marks given Breaux Bridge in the realtor study, Mayor Delhomme attributed it to effective patrolling by BBPD.
“You don’t need a detective unit when you prevent crimes,” Delhomme said