NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry says New Orleans is a great city plagued with crime.
“I have consistently come, again and again to this city to say that this city needs to be a safe city,” Landry said.
Wednesday, Landry traveled to New Orleans to sign a series of bills into law that he claims will make the city safer.
One of the governor’s priorities during the recently wrapped special legislative session on crime was to stand up a permanent state police troop in the city.
Lawmakers approved $19 million to fund the unit through July.
“As governor our commitment is going to establish a permanent Troop NOLA,” Landry said. “That is going to work inside this city, not just in the Quarter, not just in the business district, but inside this entire city.”
Troop NOLA would function like the other nine regional state police districts across the state with about 40 troopers augmenting the NOPD.
LSP Superintendent Robert Hodges said he’s building the team as we speak.
“In addition to New Orleans officers, you’ll have state police uniformed troopers as well as investigative troopers following up not just on violent crime, but on all crimes in the city, so people can feel safe wherever they live within Orleans Parish,” Hodges said.
Some New Orleans lawmakers have said the manpower strapped city police department can certainly use the help, but they want to know if troopers will have to follow the same court ordered policing reforms now guiding the NOPD.
“Will the state police have to follow the consent decree,” Rep. Matthew Willard, D-New Orleans said. “Will there be any engagement with the New Orleans City Council.”
Col. Hodges indicated the LSP will follow its own rules.
“When we work with any other agency we’re always conscientious of the guidelines that they have to follow, but we still can work within our own agency’s policies for the greater good of law enforcement and public safety,” Hodges said.
Christian Pendleton from the French Quarter Management District says the LSP will make New Orleans safer.
“So, we can deliver that quintessential New Orleans experience for everyone that wants to come and enjoy it,” Pendleton said.
Col. Hodges wouldn’t reveal whether troopers would be answering actual calls for service in the city.
He said the LSP would be working in sync and strategically in partnership with NOPD.
“We met with New Orleans today and we’re still finalizing some of the operations that we’re going to be doing.”
Governor Landry also signed bills in New Orleans making certain juvenile criminal records public, imposing harsher penalties for certain crimes including carjacking and fentanyl distribution and granting qualified immunity to law enforcers in the line of duty.
“This is such a jewel of a city,” Landry said. “We have great cities in this state. It starts right here in New Orleans.”
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