NEW ORLEANS- As the Crescent City closes in on five dozen murders within the first three months of 2011, law enforcement officials gathered at a crime summit downtown Saturday afternoon, hoping to stop the violence.
"The crime rate is unacceptable," said Crimefighters founder Irv Magri. "It's unacceptable in a civilized society."
The meeting, organized by Magri's group, comes a day after the U.S. Justice Department issued two new reports on crime trends in New Orleans and the NOPD. Among the recommendations were that the homicide division improve training and hire more officers.
"They have told me nothing that I haven't known and seen and complained about," said Magri, retired NOPD officer. "Let me just tell you, this is not politically popular for me to say. But what we need to do is raise the standards for the NOPD officers, dramatically."
The Justice Department's first report last week slammed the NOPD for deeply rooted patterns of violating people's rights. But officials at Saturday's crime summit believe the tide is turning.
"Certainly we've seen some pretty grim recent events with the Department of Justice, with some of the latest murders, but I am optimistic that we're going to get better," said Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman. "I think the leadership in the police department, Superintendent Serpas and the mayor, are committed to change."
NOPD officials say that's what they're working toward, with efforts like ramped up training. But District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro says solving New Orleans' crime problem will take more than a reformed police department.
"I think the law enforcement agencies are working very, very well together, but the final piece in the puzzle has got to be the community. They have got to step forward and have confidence in us and in our ability to go after the violent criminal, to get him and keep him off the streets," said Cannizzaro.
Friday's report shows most of New Orleans' murders happen outside, where there are often witnesses. According to Cannizzaro, despite the community's deep-seated fear of retaliation, no one who has entered his victim/witness assistance program has been killed.
