NEW ORLEANS — The city of New Orleans will once again be spending millions of dollars on out-of-town, supplemental police protection to keep Carnival krewes from having to shorten their parade routes.
Two years ago, the city cut some of the traditional routes because there weren’t enough NOPD officers to secure the parades.
Thursday, Orleans Sheriff Susan Hutson said she has lined up enough law enforcers from across the state to ensure a safe Mardi Gras season.
“This is our thing now,” Hutson said. “We do this now. Every year we get together and we secure our city and secure families who want to have a good time.”
This year, 170 Orleans Parish deputies will work the parade routes.
They will be joined by 200 officers, deputies, constables, and marshals from 18 different agencies working carnival details.
Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto says on some nights, there will be up to 100 JPSO deputies providing security for New Orleans parades.
“When we gave them the amount of spots we needed, it was completely volunteer for them to step up for the extra duties,” Lopinto said. “They did so, we filled all of our shifts we needed to fill and we’re happy to help out.”
Law enforcers will also be coming from as far away as Natchitoches and Franklin.
“I had to come back and help because this is a great thing for the state of Louisiana, the city of New Orleans and it has to be safe,” Natchitoches City Marshal Chief Deputy Steve Pezant said. “Whatever we can do to do that, is what needs to be done.”
“This is an opportunity for my officers to come in and get experience on how to work the parades, especially one as big as the one here in New Orleans,” Franklin Police Chief Cedric Handy said. “We just think the opportunity is great for us.”
Louisiana State Troopers and personnel from the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections will also be in New Orleans, keeping the peace during the Carnival season.
The OPSO will also operate a “booking bus” in the French Quarter during Mardi Gras. That’s where offenders will be processed before heading to jail.
Last year, the unit processed 235 arrests, primarily for weapon and drug charges.