Italian American Digest 7Italian American Digest FALL 2018 | Page 5

FALL 2018
I talian A merican D igest
PAGE 5
Kenner Police Headquarters to Be Named After Esteemed Chief
Festival, a celebration started by Nick
Congemi to commemorate the Ital-
ian immigrants who played a large
While the practice of naming a
part in the formation of the city.
public building after a living person
“They brought the culture and
is generally prohibited in Louisiana,
served in every capacity, from
this year the City of Ken-
repairing shoes to producing the
ner has made an excep-
foods that we ate, which really
tion. The city will rename
distinguished this area,” said Con-
its police headquarters
gemi.
the Nick Congemi Police
“The city of Kenner at one time
Complex in honor of an
was the center of the community
American-Italian pioneer
for many Italian families. We’re
in modern policing.
trying to create a nice, communi-
Nick Congemi was
ty-type fair, to make it similar to a
elected Kenner chief
family reunion where people come
of police in 1990, after
to meet and enjoy each other’s
serving two decades in
company at least once a year.”
the Kenner Police Depart-
Congemi’s longstanding in-
ment, where he held var-
volvement in his community has
ious leadership positions
not gone unnoticed.
and received multiple
Governor John Bel Edwards, the
awards. Congemi served
State Legislature, and the Kenner
as chief until 2006, when
City Council have unanimously
he retired after 36 years of
decided to make an exception to
service.
the traditional rule and allow the
Congemi has been
widely praised since the
Nick Congemi was elected Kenner chief of police in 1990 after two decades with the force. dedication of the Nick Congemi
Police Complex in recognition of
beginning of his tenure,
his achievements and contributions
as crime in Kenner was
to the community.
Louisiana.
reduced by 51 percent between 1990 Program, Citizen Police Academy,
The ceremony will take place at 10
However, Congemi is not only
and 2006, largely thanks to the tech- Community Progress Group, and
a.m. on Wednesday, September 26, at
known for his contributions within
nological innovations and changes
Community Police Corps, to create
the current Kenner Police Complex.
the police department. Each year,
Congemi put in place.
a connection between the police
Kenner hosts an Italian Heritage
A focus on community has always force and the community they help
by Tabor Brewster
been at the forefront of Congemi’s
endeavors in the police department.
He implemented programs such as
the Neighborhood Crime Watch
Program, Business Against Crime
protect. These programs coincided
with a national increase in commu-
nity policing during the 1990s, and
Congemi is often seen as responsible
for introducing these practices in