Local and prospective businesses are becoming concerned about Baton Rouge’s ongoing crime problems.

Business consultants looking at locating in Baton Rouge have begun questioning just how safe the city is in the last few years, Adam Knapp, president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, told The Advocate last week.

Crime was rarely brought up in the past as a concern for businesses looking to locate in the city, Knapp said.

“What we have seen is more companies asking about it as part of their questioning when making a site decision,” Knapp said.

The murder rate is businesses’ biggest concern, Knapp said.

Despite the anxiety, crime does not appear to have prevented any businesses from locating here thus far, Knapp said.

Local businesses have also labeled crime as one of their biggest complaints this year.

Crime finished fourth on the BRAC’s 2013 Economic Outlook survey, which was released Nov. 16.

The problems that fell ahead of crime dealt with transportation, education and workforce issues.

Almost three in 10 respondents included crime as an issue plaguing Baton Rouge businesses.

The questions seem appropriate following the FBI’s 2011 crime statistics’ release, which showed that Baton Rouge surpassed New Orleans in violent crime per capita in 2011.

Baton Rouge recorded 64 murders, 51 rapes, 893 robberies and 1,460 aggravated assaults in 2011, adding up to a violent crime rate of 1065.7 crimes per 100,000 people.

Crime also took center stage during the 2012 Baton Rouge mayor’s race. 

Current Mayor-President Kip Holden said he wanted to attack crime at its roots, while his main contender Mayor-President Pro Tempore Mike

Walker declared Baton Rouge was in a “crime emergency” and detailed a nine-step program to control crime.

To help address the crime problem, residents have formed the “Fight, Not Fear” campaign to bring attention to Baton Rouge’s crime rate.

The campaign also demands the unification of Baton Rouge’s two separate police forces: East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office and Baton Rouge Police Department.

Similarly, Operation BRAVE, which was started in May, has focused on curbing crime in the 70805 zip code.

BRAVE was modeled on Operation Ceasefire, a program that has successfully reduced crime in parts of Boston and Los Angeles.

Ceasefire bases its program on three messages: Crime will be met with consequences, the community will morally resist it and anyone who needs help can get it.

Knapp said he admired BRAVE because businesses often question what the Baton Rouge community is doing to help prevent crime.

In 2011, Baton Rouge recorded:
– 64 murders
– 51 rapes
– 893 robberies
– 1,460 aggravated assaults
The city had a crime rate of 1065.7 crimes per 100,000 people. Almost
three in 10 respondents to the BRAC 2013 Economic Outlook survey
included crime as an issue that plagues businesses in city.