For the first time in more than 30 years, there were no murders recorded in St. Charles Parish for a full calendar year.
That was the case for 2025, a year that saw overall crime decline by 2.5 percent according to statistics announced last week by the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office. It extended a run dating back to May of 2024, when the lone recorded murder that year took place, and continued an overall downward trend. Five murders were committed in 2023 and six in 2022.
Sgt. Jenni Barrette, Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer, the finalized year-end figures mark the second-lowest year for crime in the past 30 years.
St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne said a true team effort made it possible, crediting the hard work of the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office as well as strong partnerships within the community.
“First, I want to personally thank our dedicated employees who take crime prevention and apprehension seriously,” Champagne said. “I also want to express my gratitude to the District Attorney (Joel Chaisson II) and his assistants for their vital role in aggressively prosecuting offenders. Lastly, I want to thank the judges of the 29th Judicial District for their fair and effective administration of justice.”
But Champagne added that another major key is citizen involvement, calling that likewise a very valuable part of the work police do to keep the community safe.
“In most cases, residents of St. Charles Parish are typically quick to report suspicious behavior, criminal activities, and information about perpetrators,” Champagne said. “Although these numbers are promising, we urge residents to remain vigilant and lock their vehicles, secure their property, and report any suspicious activity.”
The overall crime rate has continued to dip. Prior to 2025, 2024 represented the parish’s second lowest crime mark, and prior to that, 2023 held that distinction.
A key difference and improvement from 2024, however, was that overall crime declined in 2025. While 2024 saw a 5.6 percent increase in the number of total crimes from 2023, 2025 saw a 2.5 percent decline from last year’s final count.
