State attorney general and sheriff defy mayor to bring down murder rate
11th July 2016 · 0 Comments
By Christopher Tidmore
Contributing Writer
It was notable that neither NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison nor Mayor Mitch Landrieu appeared at the July 1 press conference seeking to pool metro and state police resources in order to fight crime around the French Quarter.
Of course, the gathering was definitely not Mitch Landrieu’s idea. Augmenting police authority in the city with commissioned officers from suburban departments is controversial to say the least. The proposal by Attorney General Jeff Landry might also serve as the only way to provide enough resources and crime fighting personnel in Orleans Parish in order to definitively lower the murder rate. However, it also could potentially undermine the law enforcement power of the Mayor of New Orleans
The cooperative effort might also save lives, so the Landrieu didn’t complain too loudly. Still, it’s likewise not an accident that Attorney General Landry’s press conference occurred at the Orleans Parish Jail, aka the newly dubbed “Justice Center,” aka headquarters of Landrieu’s loudest political rival Sheriff Marlin Gusman. Neither he nor the Republican AG could be mistaken as political allies of the Mayor, to say the least, and so the absence of Landrieu and Harrison did not daunt either’s resolve.
“The Attorney General has incredible power, and most people don’t realize it,” a confidential source told The Louisiana Weekly, explaining the proposal to create 50 person teams comprised of special agents of the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office, and Hammond Police Department to patrol the outskirts of the French Quarter and the Central Business District over the Independence Day Weekend—and beyond.
“The Attorney General can commission police officers anywhere in the state,” the source continued, “and Jeff Landry wants this to become an on-going effort to deal with the skyrocketing crime in New Orleans.” The only thing that stops AG from creating parallel police departments within parishes is money to pay these police officers.
What the Friday, July 1, 2016 press conference confirmed was that suburban departments expressed definitive willingness to provide the commissioned personnel to do regular patrols—and arrests—within the city proper. Moreover, the AG’s office effectively confirmed that these 50 person teams would not be limited to patrolling surging holiday tourism. As the official press release revealed, “Moving forward – specials agents from the LBI are expected to team with task force members from the Sheriff’s Offices in Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John, and St. Tammany and the Hammond Police Department.”
In other words, Jeff Landry has effectively created a parallel police department in Orleans Parish having barely spent a dime. Moreover, the AG’s ambition is wide-ranging. As Landry observed, “By reallocating time, this new effort will not cost the City or the State anything new; but it will support and assist the NOPD, State Police, and FBI here. If we are to bring an end to the smear of crime, fraud, and corruption that tarnishes our great State’s reputation and affects the quality of life of all in Louisiana – law enforcement must work together.”
The location of the press conference also sent a message. Should Landrieu object to the use of St. Tammany, St. Bernard, or St. Charles, cops in New Orleans proper, all the Attorney General need do is turn to Sheriff Gusman. The Orleans Sheriff’s job may be simply to run the jail in modern times, but historically—and still constitutionally—the Sheriff and his Deputies enjoy police arrest power in the city, and the Sheriff could cross commission/deputize cops from other parishes. Sheriff Gusman confirmed his commitment to Landry’s concept stating, “When we work together, we are stronger and the public is safer. I am delighted with this new initiative from the Attorney General.”
Historically, the prospect of regular patrols and ‘arresting’ officers from predominantly Caucasian suburban police departments would have raised rancor within the African-American leadership of the City. Perhaps the reason for the lack of Black backlash has to do with both the skillful way that the 50 person teams have pledged to work with NOPD’s Eight District, and the fact that Mitch Landrieu has come no closer to finding the money for his 1600 officer police force than when he took office.
The Mayor pledged that he would not leave office without returning the New Orleans Police Department to full strength, yet the failure of his police millage several months ago finally ended the speculation as to whether the Mayor could build a Department with enough officers to realistically patrol the city’s highest crime zones.
District “C” Councilwoman Nadine Ramsey, who represents the patrol area of the first team assembled in the Tremé, St. Roch, and New Marigny, put her enthusiastic endorsement on Landry’s proposal, declaring, “To roll out this policy and plan is so wonderful because we want to make sure that our visitors are safe. Thank you to the Attorney General and all the law enforcement involved.”
As of June 22, 2016, the current strength of NOPD stands at 1,170 officers, or 96 officers short of the budgeted 1,266. “Moral is so low in NOPD right now, that the city is having real trouble just staying ahead of attrition in the Department,” the confidential source involved in the creation of the new program explained to this newspaper. Long term, he added, each 50 person teams shall concentrate on a particular high crime area of Orleans Parish, augmenting regular NOPD efforts, and allowing the police presence to reach levels that can create a climate of security within the City. With multiple teams operating simultaneously, the city will reach 1600 officers on the streets even if NOPD does not achieve its recruitment goals.
The motive for the participation of surrounding departments is simple, he explained. “Crime does not stop at the parish line.” And the city’s restored reputation at the “Murder Capital of America” affects the economy of the whole metro region.
To hear more on this story, listen to the 7/10/16 podcast with author at http://wrno.iheart.com/media/podcast-the-founders-show-founders/.
This article originally published in the July 11, 2016 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
