223 calls for service handled as department seeks technology upgrades
PORT ALLEN — Police Chief Donovan Mitchell reported 223 calls for service in August while requesting council approval for GPS fleet management systems during committee meetings Wednesday that covered law enforcement statistics, code enforcement updates, and municipal technology initiatives.
August Police Activity
The Port Allen Police Department responded to or assisted with 223 calls in August, including 27 alarms, 10 fire department assists, and 55 medical calls. Officers made 15 arrests across various charges and responded to 19 traffic crashes while issuing 26 traffic citations.
Two shots fired incidents required investigation during the month. The first occurred in the 300 block of Tracy Porter Street, where officers responded approximately one hour after the incident occurred. Following investigation, officials determined there was no property damage or injuries.
A second shots fired call came August 6th in the 800 block of Court Street, where a citizen reported hearing what they believed were gunshots. After preliminary investigation, officers again found no evidence of property damage or injuries.
Chief Mitchell clarified the department’s approach to such investigations: “When I say there was nothing to it, there was no property damage, there was no person injured from it.”
The department continues awaiting gunshot detection equipment that would help pinpoint the exact location of any actual gunfire.
GPS Fleet Management Proposal
Chief Mitchell requested council approval for Operation Fleet Management 2025, a modernization initiative that would install GPS tracking systems in 10 patrol vehicles to improve accountability, transparency, and officer safety.
“You’re only as good as you can document your performance,” Mitchell told council members. “You need to know what you’re doing, what you’re not doing, where your resources are going, what our officers are doing.”
The system would provide real-time location tracking, maintenance scheduling, and vehicle performance data including speed monitoring, patrol routes, and braking patterns. The technology cannot be disabled once installed and would track vehicles continuously, including during off-duty hours for take-home patrol units.
Council members expressed support for both the GPS tracking and additional radar systems for patrol vehicles. The department currently has handheld radar units, but they have aged and experienced reliability issues.
“I think that’s a good idea. I also hope y’all get some radar for all the vehicles,” one council member said.
Mitchell confirmed radar system installation as the next technology priority, noting the current handheld units don’t charge properly and require replacement.
Code Enforcement Updates
The city addressed multiple property code violations during August, with contractor Bo handling enforcement actions at six locations: 1044 Avenue B, 1336 Avenue C, 402 South 14th Street, 1132 Oregon Avenue, 268 North 15th Street, and 269 North 14th Street.
However, several properties remain unaddressed. Work on 15th Street and 14th Street violations has not been completed, and additional properties have been reported since the original list was compiled.
Council members discussed ongoing issues with properties containing abandoned vehicles, boats, and other code violations. One location features a boat in the yard along with unlicensed vehicles that may require formal notice procedures.
The enforcement process has been complicated by the temporary absence of the regular code enforcement coordinator, requiring interim staff to coordinate with contractors using previously compiled lists.
Municipal Finance Items
The council advanced several financial matters, including a $39,535.86 retainage payment to McLeod Electric for electrical panel modifications at the wastewater treatment plant’s F1 pump station completed last year.
The payment recommendation came from project consultant Eric Hall, who was unable to attend Wednesday’s meeting but endorsed releasing the retained funds.
Council members also reviewed a request to surplus seven police vehicles no longer in service, including mostly 2011 Tahoes, one 2009 Ford pickup, three 2015 Tahoes, one 2017 Explorer, and one 2018 Dodge Charger.
Tax Election and Collection Updates
Finance Director Adrian Daigle provided detailed updates on the November 15th police department tax election, confirming all required state approvals and advertisement schedules are on track.
The election process revealed the 2015 millage rate was 5.27 mills, meaning the current request for 5.02 mills represents a voluntary reduction that could have generated approximately $14,000 more annually for the police department.
The city is also exploring consolidating tax collection through the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, which would provide residents with a single tax bill rather than separate municipal and parish bills. However, implementation would wait until 2026 due to the parish’s current software transition.
Current proposals range from $2 per parcel (Lafayette Parish model) to 10-20% of total tax collection, with the city’s 2,600 tax bills representing significant administrative complexity for the sheriff’s office.
Community Events and Outreach
The city announced its second town hall meeting for Monday at 5:30 PM, with multiple departments available to answer resident questions. Officials are also exploring partnerships with the post office to improve community communication beyond school-based flyer distribution.
The annual “Nightmare on Court Street” Halloween event is scheduled for October 26th from 6-8 PM, representing an expansion of Mayor Terecita Pattan’s previous trunk-or-treat events into a city-wide celebration.
The Port Allen City Council meets the first and second Wednesday of each month at 5:30 PM. Committee meeting recordings are available through the city clerk’s office.
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