East Baton Rouge Parish (EBR), alongside three other cities, was selected to participate in the United States Department of Justice Model Cities Initiative. The initiative provides targeted funding to selected cities with the stated goals of reducing crime, restoring law and order, and serving as a nationwide example. The agency’s grant application emphasized its encouragement of common-sense policing and the adoption of new technologies. Proactive policing and increased police activity in high crime areas, as well as drones and artificial intelligence, were referenced as examples of these priorities.
The parish will receive more than $65.3 million. The official press release from the Department of Justice references the “strong interagency partnerships and comprehensive public safety strategy” as well as EBR public safety officials’ “ambitious plans to expand crime‑fighting, investigative, and prosecution capacity; modernize crime data, intelligence, and analytics; and enhance law enforcement readiness and frontline support” as features that made the city a desirable candidate for the Model Cities program.
East Baton Rouge Parish has long had higher crime rates than the national average. While homicides have declined in recent years, falling from a record 149 in 2021 to 94 in 2025, the parish’s progress has trailed other Louisiana cities that have seen more dramatic drops, like New Orleans. Moreover, the Baton Rouge Police Department, a focus of the Model Cities funding, has struggled with understaffing and was short about 150 officers as of mid-2026.
Considering the recent progress in reducing violent crime, and the glaring needs for a galvanized law enforcement, the Model Cities grant meets the parish at a crucial fork in the road. In a public statement, Mayor-President Sid Edwards remarked, “Government grants are often seen as giveaways…. This is not a giveaway, it’s an investment.” Should this perspective continue to be a guiding principle for EBR public safety officials, the parish will be able to take the path that turns short term funding into capacity building for long term public safety.
Instead of creating new programs that will require ongoing funding after the grant has expired, EBR officials can look to investment opportunities that are self-sustaining. Based on the merits listed in the grant selection process, the parish should not have to look too far. Maintaining the interagency partnerships and data-driven approach that helped secure the grant can ensure the program is evaluated across agencies, from multiple perspectives, and on the strength of measurable outcomes.
EBR has a tremendous opportunity to join other major cities celebrated for their stunning crime drops and enhanced public safety. The Model Cities grant can be a catalyst for this progress, but is not sufficient to create this success singlehandedly. Impact that extends beyond the grant will require strategic investment, strong institutions, and a willingness to let data guide smart public safety decisions.