New Violent Crimes Task Force Director says progress is being mad

According to the Vermilion Parish’s Sheriff Office’s new public information officer and Violent Crimes Task Force Director Eddie Langlinais, the Vermilion Municipal and Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force along with Abbeville Police Department teamed up to reactivate the Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF).
VCTF Director Langlinais acknowledges the VCTF has been successful in the past by getting violent criminals off of the streets of Abbeville and making our communities safer.
Sadly, after an uptick in violent crime, it was evident that some of the criminal elements in our communities have reverted to the violence that disturbed and disrupted the streets of Abbeville in the past.
According to Langlinais, he was given full authority in reassembling the Vermilion Municipal and Sheriff’s Task Force, from Sheriff Mike Couvillon, Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza, and Abbeville Chief of Police Bill Spearman to include restructuring, redefining and redirecting the task force.
Agencies that have committed to being part of the VCTF now include: the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force; the Abbeville Police Department; the Louisiana State Police; the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI); Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF); and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Under the direction and leadership of Langlinais, the VCTF will continue its core efforts to investigate existing unsolved violent crimes, with the goal of arresting those responsible.
Langlinais is also directing and leading a newly created street level enforcement unit called the “Street Crimes Suppression Unit” (SCSU), by utilizing a united multi agency law enforcement team in specific areas to provide an aggressive street enforcement presence coupled with a zero-tolerance against crimes of violence and/or the illegal carry and use of firearms by convicted felons.
“One of the first things I did was to redefine the objectives of the VCTF’s mission as a multiple agency task force. We immediately created a subunit titled and described as the VCTF’s “Street Crimes Suppression Unit” (SCSU) tasked out to pursue specific targets with several new objectives, including focusing and identifying crimes (both old and new) that might rise to the level of federal prosecution, which often results in stiffer and longer sentencing and could result in keeping these type offenders where they belong… behind bars,” said Director Langlinais.
Langlinais said that stricter and longer prison sentences might send a clear message to the criminals that continue to plague our streets with crime and violence.
“We will not tolerate these crimes against person(s) in our neighborhoods, communities, or back yards, and it is time we unite, take action and stand our ground to hold those responsible, accountable.”
According to Langlinais, he has already met with the new 15th Judicial District Attorney Don Landry, and a representative from the United States Attorney Office, and both are very receptive to the idea of charging and prosecuting offenders at the federal level when crimes meet the statutory requirements.
Langlinais added, “It is sad when our citizens feel they have to live in seclusion in their own community. People in these neighborhoods are in fear of repercussions or retaliation from criminals if they provide information about a crime, and that is a huge handicap for law enforcement. The ability for law enforcement to solve crimes is contingent upon information, and often times it is the community that holds the key to unlocking that crucial piece of evidence that will make the case. It is our goal to develop a trusted anonymous tipster program where our neighborhoods can partner with local law enforcement and feel confident about remaining totally anonymous in providing information to law enforcement, so that cases can be solved and criminals taken off the streets. Residents deserve the right to live a normal and peaceful life, and the only way to make this possible is through the communities working together with local law enforcement.”
Langlinais said that he is proud to be able to manage, lead, and direct a group of dedicated law enforcement officers from the Sheriff’s office and Abbeville Police Department in the new SCSU.
According to Langlinais, the SCSU has made significant progress in the few months since he became director, arresting 20 offenders on various charges related to violent crimes, some of which meet the criteria to prosecute at the federal level.
Langlinais closed his interview by saying, “We have only just begun, and we will continue with absolute and relentless effort to bring resolve to the victims of these type of crimes while making our streets safer.”
Sheriff Mike Couvillon said, “As promised, I will continue to move your Sherriff’s office forward until the very last day I serve. We are fortunate to be able to bring retired Federal Marshal Eddie Langlinais into our united law enforcement efforts. His 35 plus years of law enforcement experience (24 of them being at the federal level) coupled with his ties to state and federal agencies, have already proven to be a great asset as we aggressively pursue those responsible for both past and present felony crimes within the city of Abbeville and Vermilion Parish.”