Tania Dall / Eyewitness News
NEW ORLEANS - The NOPD has a new crime fighting strategy for 2012. The department says its creating special patrol sectors; keeping officers in the same neighborhoods; and utilizing state-of-the-art crime analyzing software to zero-in on locations prone to crime.
"All the information, software management tools we needed to be smarter, more accurate, laser-like focus on several block streets as opposed to several 100 block wide. We'll be on those spots every day, all day and I think it's going to make a difference," said NOPD Superintendent Ronal Serpas during a news conference on Friday.
The city's police department says community involvement is also critical to curbing crime. Edward Buckner with "The Original Big 7 Culture & Heritage" Club agrees. Kids call him "Coach Ed."
"As a whole family all of New Orleans is worse off right now," said Buckner who runs a backyard operation from his 7th ward home. It's a place where kids can sew "Mardi Gras Indian costumes" and have a safe place to go.
Buckner's main goal is to keep younger generations engaged, out of harms way and off the street.
"We're using the beading technique and beading work as a tool of discipline and a place for children to come and create and discover themselves with their art," said Buckner.
The New Orleans native believes to stop crime, kids need more extracurricular activities and if they break the law, they need to serve the time.
"The laws should state if you get caught with a gun for no reason at all, you have no paperwork on the gun, you should do at least two years," said Buckner.
As 2012 gets underway, Buckner, like Chief Serpas, can only hope for a more peaceful new year.
"I do think and I feel very good that 2012 is going to be a better year," said Serpas as a news conference last Friday.
Other changes coming to NOPD this year include the revival of its officer promotion system and the hiring of 30 new officers for a new Police Academy.
