Publisher: Law enforcement consolidation a good idea

In his latest column, Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister says he likes the idea of consolidating the city police, sheriff and constable—a notion that has been revived recently by Metro Councilman Joel Boé but was previously discussed in the 1960s, 1970s, 2002 and 2011. “You may remember a TV campaign this past fall, ‘Fight, Not Fear’, funded by businessman Lane Grigsby, which promoted this idea,” McCollister writes. “Grigsby points out that other major cities have reduced crime by as much as 45% with the unification of [law enforcement] agencies—cities such as Charlotte, Indianapolis, Louisville and Las Vegas. The question seems to be: If they can do it and it helps, why not Baton Rouge?” The timing also seems right for the consolidation conversation to resurface in light of the controversy surrounding the recent firing of Police Chief Dewayne White by Mayor Kip Holden. “Boé says the committee’s first meeting [on Wednesday] couldn’t come at a better time, and this situation is just one more reason why unification is a good idea,” says McCollister. Meanwhile, the city-parish’s pursuit of purchasing the former Woman’s Hospital campus on Airline Highway to use for law enforcement needs, among other things, could make consolidation work logistically, as Metro Councilman Chandler Loupe has pointed out. “There are other issues that will have to be addressed involving civil service, retirement, unions and so on. But given the pressing needs, it is critical we look at changing the model in order to deliver better service for less,” McCollister says. Read the full column here. Send your comments to editors@businessreport.com.