A weekend crime blitz by Hammond police ended with 30 people in cuffs, the department said, including 15 teenagers and a 14-year-old who was the youngest person arrested. Officers also seized two handguns during the sweep.
According to WDSU, the arrests followed a series of proactive patrols the Hammond Police Department had already announced and later outlined at a press briefing. Police framed the operation as a direct response to a run of shootings and other violent incidents in the downtown core.
Federal, State Partners Join the Effort
Hammond Police Chief Edwin Bergeron said the department is working with the FBI and Louisiana State Police as part of the crackdown and made it clear that anyone tied to gun violence is firmly in their sights. As reported by WBRZ, Bergeron stressed that authorities will use "every lawful resource" available to identify and arrest suspects.
Teens, Curfew and Juvenile Processing
Police told WDSU that half of the people arrested were under 18. The city enforces a curfew for anyone younger than 17 that runs from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and from midnight to 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Juvenile arrests are typically handled by HPD’s Juvenile Division and sent to Hammond City Court.
Where Cases Will Be Processed
Adults arrested in the sweep will be processed by the Hammond Police Department and routed to Hammond City Court, while juveniles go through the department’s juvenile unit, according to the city website. The Hammond Police Department posts non-emergency contact details and records information on its site for anyone seeking updates on arrests or case status. That information is listed on the Hammond Police contact page.
Context: A Buildup of Downtown Violence
The latest roundup follows a July 11 downtown shooting that left one person hurt, coverage by WAFB shows. It also comes on the heels of an earlier downtown sweep that led to 16 arrests and the recovery of 10 firearms, according to WBRZ. Officials say the heightened police presence targeted nightlife corridors and areas near Southeastern Louisiana University.
How to Report Tips
Authorities are asking anyone with information about criminal activity to contact the Hammond Police Department or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa at 1-800-554-5245. The organization’s website explains how anonymous tips work and what rewards may be available for information that leads to arrests. Details are posted on Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa.
Chief Bergeron said similar proactive operations are likely as investigators chase leads and coordinate with state and federal partners. He urged residents to keep calling in suspicious activity so officers are not the last to know what is happening on their own streets.
