The Eunice Police Department is increasing patrols to keep crime down this summer.
Last summer, police worked multiple robberies and shootings, including an incident in which a 7-year-old was hit by a stray bullet. Officers don’t want a repeat of last year.
Police Chief Randy Fontenot says his city sees a spike in crime every summer. This year, his department is taking a proactive approach.
"Last year we waited until after the problem started, then we were too late," Fontenot said.
"This year we can see some of the rumbling start. Knowing what happened last year, that when the heat gets here and school lets out, (crime) really picks up. We decided to start something earlier to prevent it and keep it down."
Fontenot says he’s doubling patrols in several high crime areas. Two to three patrol units will monitor a single area at any given time.
"We broke the police department up into teams," Fontenot said. "We drew from each shift. We decreased the size of the patrol shifts and created two teams that work in these problems areas. We have extras officers in the area. Extra patrols. "
