Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana - The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office has received a $10,000 Litter Enforcement Surveillance Camera Grant from Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB), aimed at strengthening the fight against illegal littering and dumping across the region. The funding is part of a statewide initiative to equip law enforcement with the tools and technology needed to better identify and hold accountable individuals who violate litter laws.
The grant, funded by the State of Louisiana and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, is one of ten distributed across eight parishes, totaling nearly $95,000. According to KLB’s organizers, the program was designed to help law enforcement agencies either launch new surveillance camera programs or expand existing efforts. The initiative includes funding for cameras, monitoring software, and additional equipment, as well as technical education on equipment selection, installation, and tracking offenders through video evidence.
Sheriff Stitch Guillory of Calcasieu Parish said the resources will be used to bolster local litter enforcement capabilities. “This grant award represents an active partnership with KLB that will help us purchase cameras, monitoring software, and other equipment to bring our litter enforcement programs to the next level,” Guillory stated. The deployment of these surveillance cameras will aid in gathering evidence to identify offenders and increase the number of littering citations issued in Calcasieu Parish.
State officials, including Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, emphasize broad collaboration with enforcement agencies and prosecutors to address public demands for stricter litter law enforcement. A recent poll cited by state leaders found that more than two-thirds of Louisiana residents support increased enforcement efforts.
Beyond providing funds, KLB Executive Director Susan Russell explained that the program is intended to help law enforcement agencies with guidance and best practices in setting up their surveillance programs. “Enforcement of the litter laws is a key part to getting a better handle on Louisiana’s litter problem. Gross littering negatively affects so many communities,” said Russell.
KLB operates as a state program under the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. The organization promotes community responsibility for keeping Louisiana clean and beautiful, works closely with local affiliates, and is part of the national Keep America Beautiful network. Through various grant opportunities, KLB has invested millions of dollars since 2004 in litter abatement, recycling, environmental education, and beautification efforts statewide.