By james art 
As expectedthe long-awaited safety assessment by SafeBR provides an analysis of the potential for a merger between the Baton Rouge Police Department and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The Crime Focus Coalition commissioned 21CP to conduct the study to determine how best to strengthen recruitment, pay, resources and law enforcement efficiency across the parish.
In releasing the report this morning, SafeBR noted that the findings show that Baton Rouge can realize significant improvements in public safety resources and support through a unified approach to law enforcement.
Among the specific findings:
- Law enforcement in Baton Rouge is ‘extremely tough’; all the vacancies are in the patrol duties against the department head.
- If the community were to spend the national average, savings of over $50 million could be realized to invest in higher pay, fill vacant patrol positions and invest in technology for public safety and justice needs.
- Comparable cities realized approximately 20% savings after consolidation efforts.
- A unified approach to officer recruitment, incorporating best practices from both BRPD and EBRSO, could help fill vacancies and allow Baton Rouge to be more competitive regionally and nationally for officers.
The report outlines how pay and benefits for local law enforcement agencies can be increased with cost savings from joint forces. A review of partner communities such as Charlotte, North Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida also found that joint forces can improve public safety by streamlining accountability, improving community relations, building trust and coordinating critical crime-fighting efforts, such as tasked with the anti-narcotics and serious crime force, according to the release.
Leaders in Charlotte and Jacksonville noted the importance of a phased, strategic transition and implementation plan, organizers say. Other communities, such as Louisville, Kentucky, took advantage of the opportunity to adopt best practices from previously separate law enforcement agencies that were unified under one command.
SafeBR organizers emphasize that the evaluation is not a comprehensive view or evaluation of the BRPD, EBRSO or other law enforcement agencies in the parish. Rather, it focuses on how agencies currently deliver public safety services and the advantages, disadvantages, and critical considerations for a unified approach to law enforcement in the future, given the growing safety, fiscal, and other challenges.
“We believe law enforcement officers and personnel in Baton Rouge deserve the best possible resources and support,” real estate developer and attorney Russell Moseley said in the release. “We joined with 21CP to explore the efforts of other communities that have transformed community policing resources and tactics to improve safety and accountability.”
Read the full report. Read on Baton Rouge Business ReportThe story of from the October edition.
Editor’s note: The title of this story has been revised since it was originally published. The SafeBR report contains no recommendations; analysis only.