NEW ORLEANS — Mayor Latoya Cantrell and NOPD Superintendent Annie Kirk-Patrick responded to comments by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry earlier this week about a permanent presence of state police in New Orleans.
Cantrell says that she is in alignment with Gov. Landry's policing plans for New Orleans.
"We appreciate the fact that he understands the needs on the ground here, meaning the level of support that our New Orleans Police Department needs, but also deserves," Cantrell said. "And so I am pleased that he has echoed literally my sentiments relative to the impacts of the consent decree. The harm, I would say, overall, that it's caused, but we have made sure that we've utilized the resources that the consent decree did usher in to make sure that we are at a phase of substantial completion."
Cantrell was asked if she had a reaction to Landry's choice of the word "shamble."
She responded by saying, "What the governor said was right on the impacts that the consent decree has had on our department; it's time for substantial completion. And I am in alignment with that. And with the leadership of our chief Kirkpatrick, I believe that we're going to get there in coordination and in partnership, so I'm working in consultation and just in collaboration with Governor Landry."
Landry also said it would take 10 years or more to dig out of the hole and hire back up to proper staffing.
Kirkpatrick said that's not her timeline and that she is tied to the Cantrell administration.
"Two-year timeline, for me, is my timeline for getting us back to where we should be without compromise. So I will not lower standards," Kirkpatrick stated.
Kirkpatrick also said that about 40 new state patrol officers will be working with NOPD.
"We are absolutely partners and teammates in the US, okay, so they have different roles, but they're going to be in the districts as well," Kirkpatrick said. "They're not just going to be in the French Quarter. They're going to help us in all areas of the city."
In a press conference Monday, Governor Landry told reporters the New Orleans Police Department "is in shambles, because of a federal consent decree and a federal judge."
Landry says because of that, he wants the Louisiana State Police to step in to help protect what he says is the state's greatest asset. "Having a permanent troop in New Orleans is the only way that I see to keep the city safe over the next decade," he said.
In order to do that he needs the back of the legislature – he plans to hold a special crime session after Mardi Gras.
"Part of that crime session is going to help us put in place the funding mechanism to get that troop up and running," Landry explained.
But the details on what this special troop will look like are not finalized.
"It has a severe manpower shortage, and 40 troopers can make a difference. I think most people see this as welcome news and it's especially welcome that he wants the legislature to fund it. That's why he's not going to put all of that burden on the citizens of New Orleans."
And DuBos says, Landry saying the department is "in shambles" could be a strategy.
"He needs to kind of sound the alarm and the rest of the state so that the sheriffs who are going to lose some of those troopers understand why this is so important."
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.