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Jimmy Broussard was still getting acclimated to his new office Tuesday morning. Broussard will be sworn in as Crowley’s Chief of Police today (Thursday) at 2 p.m. in the Crowley City Court building.

Broussard ready to be 'active chief'

Swearing in ceremony today in City Court building

Howell Dennis
Managing Editor
Crowley Post-Signal

Jimmy Broussard has worn many hats in the city of Crowley over the years; reverend of the First Presbyterian Church of Crowley, former president of the Acadia Players and, the one that gave him the desire to pursue the position he is being sworn into today, former Crowley Police Officer.
Prior to taking office, Broussard spoke about increasing patrols, hiring patrolmen and how strange it is to return to his former place of employment as the chief.
“People I used to work with pass me by in the hall and say “Hi Chief,” he said with a laugh. “I still turn around to see who’s behind me.”
Broussard emphasized how having four captains (Troy Hebert, Janet Kneeland, Donald Vail and Chris Osborn) with a combined 115 years of experience has been instrumental in helping to prepare him for the job.
“I’m excited to be working with them again,” he said. “They bring a wealth of knowledge and wisdom I will draw from and utilize.”
Broussard was also happy with the new police officers that have or will be joining the force soon.
“I’m very excited about our new hires. They’re focused and very aggressive.”
However, Broussard states that the police department needs the help of the community to be as effective as he’d like it to be.
“Obviously, we can’t be everywhere all the time,” he said. “We need people to not be afraid to call us if they see illegal activity taking place. When I first started, we averaged one homicide every six years. We see more crime because of the economy and the effects of the financial strain people are feeling.”
Broussard also believes, as did former Crowley Chief KP Gibson, that most of the crime in Crowley can be tied, either directly or indirectly, to the sale of illegal narcotics in the city.
“We’re no different than any other city on the interstate system (the Interstate 10 corridor has been a route taken by many drug traffickers coming from Texas for several years),” he said.
Broussard promised to maintain the transparency that existed during former Crowley Chief of Police K.P. Gibson’s 14 years in office.
“My door will always be open,” he said. “I want to be an active chief. People might see me around their neighborhoods working with our city’s youth. They are our future. Having been a DARE and a juvenile officer I know how important it is to help them make positive choices.”
So as Broussard’s term begins on Friday, he is looking forward to the department working together to move forward on fighting crime in the Rice Capital.
“I’m looking forward to a wonderful working relationship with the public and our officers,” he said. “I’ve already had the privilege of serving with many of them.”
When asked when was the last time someone who had came from within the Crowley Police Department was elected as chief. After asking a couple of his longtime captains, the answer to that question remained unanswered.
“I’m not sure ... It’s been at least a few decades,” he said laughing. “We may be making history.”

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