NEW ORLEANS -- Amid talk of police corruption, officer guilty pleas, and ongoing investigations by the federal government into the NOPD, residents are for the first time getting a chance to weigh-in on the search for a new chief of police in New Orleans.
The public forum took place Thursday evening at the Superdome, attracting more than 100 people.
"Something needs to change dramatically with the police officers," said Alan Jones, a small business owner in New Orleans.
Jones was one of about 100 people to attend the public meeting inside the Superdome Thursday evening. The forum was designed to give residents an opportunity to share their opinion on what kinds of characteristics a new police chief should embody.
The mix of faces, races, and ages spoke in one united voice: change the New Orleans Police Department for the better and hire a new leader for the force who can make that happen.
"You need somebody who’s going to come in and clean out the police department," said Conchetta Morse, a New Orleans resident.
In the wake of two officers recently pleading guilty to covering-up a deadly police shoot out atop the Danziger Bridge, those in the audience were visibly uneasy about the NOPD's leadership.
"Some of us have known for years, before the current round of indictments, that the police force has been rotten to the core," said Marjorie Esman, director of the Louisiana chapter of the ACLU. "What we need in a police chief is somebody who will make a specific commitment to embrace accountability and public oversight."
Otherwise, witnesses of crime will continue to live in fear, argued New Orleans resident Stephanie Migo.
"I have seen many things that happen with these eyes," said Migo. "If a police asked me something, [I would say] 'oh, no, I didn't see anything.' I turned my head around. I would never ever, ever tell them nothing."
And victims of crime shared their frustration, too.
"I got shot nine times," said Hubert Michelle. "By the grace of GOD, I'm here."
And there were often commonalities among the speakers -- shared visions and demands of the new police chief.
"Community policing" cried several different residents during their two-minute allotment to speak. The concept requires officers to patrol communities on the ground and out of their cars. But with the repeated recommendation, also came a stipulation.
"Saying you support community policing these days is not much different than saying you like puppies," said Brian Denzer. "We need a really responsive police chief, somebody who understands that you need to target violent offenders, that you problem oriented approach and that you just don’t say you support community policing like the current police chief.”
Taking notes this evening were Mayor-elect Mitch Landrieu and the 21-member search committee he appointed two weeks ago which includes the district attorney, neighborhood anti-crime advocates, and civil rights leaders.
Most remained mum during the two hour forum, allowing those the audience time to share their thoughts. Many residents offered praise for the process, but there were public challenges, too.
"I think that you would agree with me that this isn't enough people for you to get your input back from and I would encourage you to do more of the same before you make a final decision," said Mark Gonzalez.
While no future public forums have been set so far, a spokesperson for the Landrieu transition team said they are committed to having similar public meetings in the future. In the meantime, Landrieu’s team is encouraging residents to share their thoughts on the police chief search by filling out an online survey available at www.TransitionNewOrleans.com.
