Contributing Writer

Sheriff's Office, town happy with partnership

As Lt. Bob Cardinale bids the town of Abita Springs farewell, officials with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office attempt to find his replacement. Officials with the town praised Cardinale at the monthly Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday night for the service he has provided to the town, where he has served for the past year as its first Sheriff's Office liaison.

Cardinale is retiring from his job at the Sheriff's Office and announced that March 10 will be his last day.

He was appointed to the position in Abita Springs after the town decided to disband its police department effective Jan. 1, 2007.

Since then Abita Springs has contracted with the Sheriff's Office to provide law enforcement for the town.

Mayor Louis Fitzmorris said he knows now, a year into this arrangement, the decision was the right one. He attributed much of the success of the adjustment to Cardinale and his rapport with the residents of Abita Springs.

"I've been very pleased with the level of service being provided by the Sheriff's Office," he said.

The members of the Board of Aldermen echoed those sentiments.

"People were apprehensive at first, but it didn't take long," Alderman Pat Patterson said.

He added that Cardinale's visibility "gave people confidence back in law enforcement."

Patterson thanked Cardinale for making himself visible and approachable by sitting on the porch at Town Hall every day.

"You exceeded our expectations," Alderman Troy Dugas added.

Maj. Donald Sharp and Capt. Tim Lentz with the Sheriff's Office were also on hand Tuesday evening.

They said Cardinale leaves some big shoes to fill, but a number of people have expressed a desire to take over in Abita Springs.

Sharp said everyone who has applied is qualified, and he promised the one chosen will "be a suitable person."

Lentz said he hopes to name the replacement in three to four weeks.

He also took the opportunity Tuesday night to report on the town's crime statistics for 2007.

He said Abita Springs is a "safe community," and no major crimes were reported in 2007.

Overall, the Sheriff's Office handled 1,611 events in and around Abita Springs for 2007, but he added most of these were minor and, in addition to the traditional crimes, that number includes minor things such as 911 hang-ups, medical calls and alarms.

He said there were no murders or rapes in Abita Springs in 2007, and only 15 reported burglaries. Seven of those burglaries were cleared and arrests were made.

The Sheriff' Office wrote 313 tickets in Abita Springs last year and conducted 154 school walk throughs.

Lentz said the latter is something the Sheriff's Office is encouraging to increase its presence in the community.

He applauded the town for taking to step to partner with the Sheriff's Office.

"It has worked well," he said.