They're charged in a three-count federal indictment in connection with the alleged 2005 beating death of a man inTreme.
Prosecutors say New Orleans Police Officer Melvin Williams beat Raymond Robair with a baton - killing him.
Williams and Officer Matthew Dean Moore are accused of obstructing justice in the investigation.
Moore is also charged with making false statements to FBI agents.
Eyewitness News talked with Robair's daughter Friday morning, shortly after the two men were arraigned in federal court.
"We're happy with what's going on now,” said Judonna Mitchell. “It's been a long time, but we're finally getting to see some justice being done."
Both defendants pleaded not guilty Friday, but records obtained by Eyewitness News reveal a string of previous brutality allegations against Officer Williams.
Complaints accuse Williams of using excessive force in numerous arrests.
One filed in 2006 says Williams repeatedly punched a man in the head, stomped him in the chest, and sprayed him with pepper spray.
Two additional complaints from 2006 and one in 2010 accuse Williams of brutality.
There's also a federal lawsuit, in which a woman accused the veteran officer of roughing her up during an unwarranted arrest.
That case resulted in a cash settlement.
We asked Williams' attorney Frank DeSalvo about the prior complaints.
"Officer Williams has probably made more arrests than any other officer on the department in that neighborhood. He's worked 17 years without missing one day of work. He's stepped on some toes," DeSalvo said. "He doesn't have any complaints from Sister Mary Holy Water here though."
New Orleans Police officials say they have an early warning system and in-house re-training for officers who are the subject of repeat complaints.
While NOPD Deputy Chief Marlon Defillo didn't comment directly about Officer Williams, he says the department is committed to rooting out problem officers.
"We are constantly looking for those types of officers where the red flag continues to go up,” Defillo said.“And when you see that type of flag, it's incumbent upon us to bring that person in to train, to modify the behavior and hopefully you see a reduction in that type of complaint coming in."
The investigation into Raymond Robair's death comes on the heels of several federal probes into NOPD misconduct -- something Robair's family believes could have a far reaching impact.
"Our city as a whole will be safer,” said Judonna Mitchell. “The community will have a restored connection with the police department after all of this is exposed and brought out and justice prevails for everyone."
A federal judge set bond at $200,000 for Melvin Williamsand $100,000 for Matthew Dean Moore.
Moore faces a maximum sentence of 25 years.
Williams faces a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty.
