NEW ORLEANS — By all accounts it was a deadly and chaotic crash scene Wednesday night as.
By Friday, the NOPD had re-assigned six task force officers to desk duty as it investigates whether the officers followed the department's strict pursuit policy.
The policy prohibits a chase unless there's been a crime of violence, escape of the suspects would pose a danger and the officers get approval from a supervisor for the pursuit.
"The stakes are going to be very high. Because some of the questions are going to be what was the police officers role in this fleeing car? Were they chasing it to the point where it got out of control? Did they aid in it getting out of control?" Tonya McClary, a deputy monitor with the Independent Police Monitor asked.
NOPD Chief Shaun Ferguson said initially that the officers indicated they did not pursue the car but some witnesses have disputed that.
"I believe he and the mayor said they're going to look at all the footage, we're going to look at various things to see if what the officers are saying is true," McClary said.
RELATED: 'They got people in there!' Video shows hectic moments after car slams into salon, sparking fire
According to McClary, the stakes go beyond possible disciplinary action against the officers.
"Depending on what the evidence shakes things out in the end, there's all kind of things -- negligence and other things. Definitely civil lawsuits from the families of the people that were in the car and potentially the families of the people that were at the beauty salon," McClary said.