Chief Tim Lentz has released the 2017 crime statistics for
the City of Covington, showing a 22% reduction in the
overall crime rate based on FBI Part I reported offenses.
In 2017, the Covington Police Department continued its
strategy of reducing crime through a community-oriented
policing philosophy.
This philosophy focuses on strengthening relationships with
our community through outreach programs and day-to-day
interactions with the public and our youth.
In 2016, the Covington Police Department responded to 440
crimes meeting the criteria for FBI Part I Uniform Crime
Reports. Through the hard work of the officers who serve
our community and their dedication to our philosophy of
community policing, that number fell to an astonishing 345
reportable crimes last year.
Mayor Cooper states, “I commend Chief Lentz and the
dedicated members of the Covington Police Department for
their hard work and dedication to the safety and service of
our community.”
Drug abuse continues to be an epidemic that affects our
entire nation. In March of 2016, Chief Lentz led an effort
for the creation of Operation Angel, a program designed to
combat drug addiction. Through this program, anyone
seeking help for drug addiction can walk into any police
station in St. Tammany Parish and be admitted into a
treatment program. In 2017, the first full year that
Operation Angel was in effect, more than 50 people took
advantage of the program through the Covington Police
Department alone.
As with previous years, traffic crashes continue to be the
most common call for service. In 2016, the Covington
Police Department responded to 667 crashes, with 70 of
those resulting in injuries. Last year, in addition to the
crime rate, the number of crashes fell to 627, with 70 of
those resulting in injuries.
The Covington Police Department continues to work toward
increased driver awareness, through programs such as the “I
Got Caught” t-shirt campaign and mock DWI crashes as local
schools.
“While the importance of crime statistics cannot be
understated, and we are ecstatic about the fourth
consecutive year of reduced numbers of crimes reported, the
real success of our agency lies in the relationships we
have built with the citizens in our community. We are
truly blessed to live and work in a community that cares.”
– Covington Police Chief Tim Lentz
