BATON ROUGE, La. — A little more than a month after Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry took office, policing has been at the forefront of his administration.
On Friday, the former State Attorney General signed an executive order declaring a State of Emergency due to numbers pointing toward a police officer shortage across Louisiana.
“As a former police officer and sheriff’s deputy, I understand the vital role our law enforcement officers play in our communities," Landry stated. "Currently, our state is facing a shortage of officers, resulting in increased crime and less public safety. Today’s executive order, and the upcoming crime special session, will ensure our law enforcement officers are supported and we can begin to bring law and order back to our state."
According to the Governor's Office, the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association estimates that Louisiana sheriff’s offices were down approximately 1,800 deputies statewide resulting in record-low employment and an increase in response time.
“We applaud Governor Landry for highlighting the importance of the law enforcement profession and our state’s desperate need to fill valuable front-line deputy positions,” said Michael Ranatza, Executive Director of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association.
Locally speaking, Landry criticized the New Orleans Police Department's ability to fight crime – saying last month that he wants the legislature to create and fund a permanent state police troop in New Orleans.
He said the NOPD "is in shambles" because of the 12-year consent decree and U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan, who oversees it.
“We have to wrestle that away from them, and even if she gave it to us today, it would take a decade to build that police department back up," claimed Landry.
During Mardi Gras, Landry committed 130 Louisiana State Police Troopers from across the state to assist the NOPD.
On social media, the LSP touted success posting that its partnership with Wildlife and Fisheries Agents patrolling the city not only curbed illegal activities, but also resulted in the confiscation of 57 unlawfully carried firearms from Bourbon Street alone, with an additional seven seized from patrols in the surrounding area in the French Quarter.
Following Landry's remarks in January, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell backed Landry's policing plans for the city.
“I just believe that from the leadership that he’s put in place, that we’re going to just be great partners,” Cantrell said. “I have 711 days [left] in my tenure as mayor. And I want to make them the best, of course, working with Gov. Landry.”
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