Lake Charles, Louisiana – The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office has launched its Annual Robbery Prevention Mobilization (RPM) to ensure a safe and secure shopping experience for residents and visitors during the holiday season. This initiative, which kicked off on Friday, November 29, and runs through Thursday, December 26, aims to deter crime and provide assistance to shoppers in the parking lot of the Prien Lake Mall.
As part of the RPM, there will be an increased presence of deputies in the parking lot, as well as a mobile command center located near the intersection of Prien Lake Road and Ernest Street. Deputies, who will be wearing orange traffic vests during evening hours, will be available to assist shoppers with various tasks, including helping them find their cars, jump-starting vehicles with dead batteries, changing flat tires, and escorting employees and shoppers to their cars after dark.
According to Sheriff Stitch Guillory, the goal of the RPM is to create a safe environment for everyone to enjoy the holiday season. “The holiday season should be a time of joy, not a time to stress and worry about safety,” Guillory stated. “Our annual RPM is our way of ensuring shoppers and employees feel secure as they go about their day. This has proven to deter crime and create a safe environment during the busiest time of year.”
It’s worth noting that deputies working this special detail are not hired by the mall, nor will they be providing security services for the mall. Instead, their focus is on assisting the public and ensuring a safe shopping experience.
In addition to the Prien Lake Mall, deputies will also be patrolling the Southgate Shopping Center on Ryan Street and the shopping areas on Derek Drive, providing assistance to shoppers and conducting regular checks to prevent crime.