New Orleans mayor addresses violent crime

allergies are messing with me. You have to take *** Claritin real quick, make sure you already sound like medea in the morning. But I’m like man, I don’t wanna sound like too bad, but good morning again. This is just um just another opportunity that I want to make sure that we maintain really in the new year um every Wednesday wanting to make myself available to you all uh to answer any questions that you may have given the existing conditions in the city, not just today but but any day in terms of weekly um activity. So with that I’m gonna turn it over to john and you can walk us through any questions. Good morning. Hmm. So the question is, what’s your reaction to those changes? How much input did the Mayor’s office in city hall happen in those And then what is the process and timeline for the national search or search for *** permanent police? So on. The, I’ll take the first part of your question um as it relates to the promotions that happened on yesterday. Yes, it was in consultation with me directly and I would say, you know, as I operate with my public safety team consultants that I’ve brought on board, wanting to maintain uh the levels of improvements that we’ve seen over the past six months, uh wanting to maintain that moving into not only the new year but with new leadership in place, wanting to make sure that we’re maxim, we’re putting the right people in the right place to maintain the recommendations and the implementation of the recommendations that that we’re birth really through *** an assessment of our department uh and of course engaging our officers in that. But with the focus on our redeployment strategies, making sure that we’re doing the best that we can to have all all hands on deck, making sure that we have officers. You know, we placed all commissioned officers for the most part who were in special ops, putting more on the street uh in every district. But more importantly focusing on where we know crime occurring throughout the city. So just making sure that we have sound and solid leadership in place under the new Superintendent to ensure that our improvement strategies are being implemented fully and that we continue to be and stay on the right path to making our city safer. Okay so in regards to the Superintendent search, you know we are still and I am still working with identifying *** company and or consultant or partner in that regard. The first one. You know I started to do the outreach with my administration really prior to announcing the interim attendant with Perth what I do know after communications with them. Uh It’s really unlikely that they will take on that role for the city of New Orleans. So we’re engaging another administration um in terms of organization relative to during law enforcement searches around the country. So it’s yet fully defined when that happens. You will truly be the first to know but it’s still *** work in progress Kind of piggybacking on mike’s first question we learned yesterday that *** couple of N. O. P. D. Captains were demoted to lieutenant and then subsequently some retirements being that N. O. P. D. ***. Short staff. Are you all worried that this will be *** trend that some higher ranking officers will leave the department or retire? Well, first off we do have *** number of officers that are eligible for retirement and that we continue and have seen as throughout the year it’s *** normal process. People retire. Um clearly with shifts in terms of leadership shifts or promotions, we’ve seen officers go ahead and retire but we have to remain *** department that demonstrates growth uh that promotes leadership from within uh that has *** demonstrated track record of tapping leaders within our department that have again demonstrated their ability to implement recommendations that were moving forward within our department to ensure that we have more boots on the ground that our strategies are fully not only being implemented that we’re seeing results from the plans that are put in place. And so any time, you know when you have shifts, it’s really an opportunity, an opportunity to be better and to just get greater every single day. And that’s what we strive for. And that’s the path that we’re that we’re on boxing, Happy New Year. Happy New Year. So just crime in general. I mean the start of the new year’s been pretty violent in the last 24 hours we had nine people shot. What are your thoughts of what’s going on with crime? I know that. Mm hmm hmm. Well, first of all, um, first of all, we know that this violence impacts all of us. Um, definitely close to home in our neighborhoods and the like. And I say close to home because I’m not leaving myself out of that equation, it impacts us, all our families, even our pets. For the most part. How although we ended 2022 with fewer murders than anticipated, close to six months ago, we were hearing rumblings from think tanks, you know that new Orleans would be over 3 50. Close to 400 murders. One is too many, but we definitely ended the year. Not with that. Thank God for that. However, We have seen that uptick from the end of 2022 going into 2023. And even with three murders that were found in gentilly on yesterday, that will now be Once they go through the process will go towards day records for 2022 and understanding that and still going under investigation. But we believe that those individuals were in that home for over *** week period where officers had to put on the right gear, you know, uh, an equipment to go and identify and to address what they found it shook that community of gentilly, no doubt in *** close knit community. And so the impacts of the violence that we’re seeing is, um, um, it’s something that we should not tolerate. I know that the men and women of the new Orleans Police Department continue to just be out there and of course engaged in getting guns off the street and making solid arrests. They’re doing everything possible. But it really is um, one that we have to, we have to as *** community, all stakeholders affiliated with fighting crime in our community violent crime, keeping this city safe now, it’s really the time. It’s been the time. But now, more than ever, because we don’t want, we see how we started the year. We do not want this to progress at all. It would also require support from the community based on police practices that are deployed in terms of our strategies of combating violent crime in our city. Let our police officers do their job and making sure absolutely that they remain focused on constitutional policing practices without *** doubt. But we have to ensure that they have the tools and resources that they need and that has been *** priority of my administration and even that we’re seeing growing on the ground with them and even more to come. But my my heart just really goes out, you know, to our community overall, to our families that are impacted by violent crime, on both sides, on both sides. But it’s gonna take that comprehensive approach. We see even still the r juvenile’s connected to many of these incidents in our community. Um it’s going to take again the wraparound services, but also us being tough on crime and being able to withstand any pushback or blowback as it relates to being tough on crime. But again, staying aligned with constitutional policing practices. But there are it seems to be um uh this lack of consequences for the actions that we’re seeing on the street, not only from our young people from from adults as well, but I’m committed to *** comprehensive approach. I’m committed to working with all stakeholders relative to that criminal justice system working so that we can not only take these criminals off the street in which N. O. P. D. They’re working hard and doing or seeing the results of that. But we have to sit people down. They need to stay off the street and we know that that just doesn’t end with the new Orleans Police Department. So I’m willing and ready to work together to ensure that people, people stay off the violent criminals are held accountable for their actions and that’s what needs to happen in our city. Yeah. Happy New year. Multiple outlets have reported that the FBI is investigating stylist, purchase clothes on your behalf. What can you tell us about how your stylist got paid for those clothes and who is paying. So that is under investigation by the FBI in which I’m not affiliated directly. I know that that’s moving through that process and I know that I’m open to any investigations that involved me and or people that work with me and for me and so I’m gonna leave that right there. Do you feel like the office hasn’t been doing enough to hold criminals accountable? I think that more can be done. Uh I think that understanding the caseloads that have either been dismissed or not acted upon in *** timely manner no doubt has had an impact on what happens on the street. Making that connection is key. Uh And it’s essential because it’s accountability for all of us. Uh And absolutely when I look at uh actions of the of the D. ***. R. From the office, I think that we can do better and I’m willing to work with our D. ***. To to do and to be better. Um I also looking for uh and you know the city of New Orleans through the our budget, you know and making sure that we are allocating resources where they need to be. And even as we are lifting up the second allocation of the american rescue plan dollars. Heh, heavily focused on public safety, heavily focusing on *** case management system so that all of our systems are talking but not only talking but sharing the data associated with it to ensure that we’re doing the right things and holding all branches accountable. Um the new Orleans Police department definitely needs to be notified in *** timely manner when individuals are returning to our streets. That helps us in our deployment strategies because we’ll know where those individuals will return in terms of those neighborhoods and community. It also means that we can put *** little bit more heat on meaning presence, pressure, constitutional policing practices, but pressure so that those individuals know that as they’re returning, that we know that they have returned and we know what they’ve been up to and that we’re watching and that we will do whatever it takes to get them and to remove them from the street. So yes it does require again that comprehensive process and collaboration so that everyone is held accountable for making sure that our city is safe. It doesn’t happen just by focusing on N. O. P. D. And they always say, you know this whole thing about insanity kind of doing the same thing over and over again. You know, focusing on one aspect of our criminal justice system is is *** problem. We have to focus on all and I think with that. Um and with the support meaning all stakeholders, having the support that they need to just make the make the sound and solid decision, you know, having the courage that it takes to just make the decision. I think that that’s where accountability will start to see the implications of it. And also start to see that individuals really understand that there will be consequences uh to their actions in the city of New Orleans that Absolutely, it’s it’s transparent to the public which also gives the public *** greater opportunity to advocate for what is needed to ensure that not only we feel safe but that we are safe and that the measures are sustained over time and so with this case management system, it makes sense. You know, I was in in Seattle talking to Microsoft last month about this case management system in which they have definitely um pledged support and also just reiterated that our city is on the right track relative to creating the systems of accountability, transparent to the public, but more importantly transparent to the agencies that are responsible that need to be held accountable and that means all of us. Good morning. Sure. So first I like your hair looks cute. Um and so yes, the city of New Orleans is keenly aware of the issues and challenges that we have had with Richard’s disposal. You’ve heard me talk about it even when we were dealing with Zone two for for Metro. Um we the city has started to one put notice we have notified richards uh in regards to the inadequate collections throughout their zone. We’re moving forward and really mirroring somewhat of the process that we engaged upon with metro. You know, these contracts with this particular contract was entered into in 2017 and over *** seven year period in order for us to address the the disparities, I would say meaning the lack of collections and the adequate pickups. We have to follow the guidelines embedded in that contract one issuing notice, the second issuing default and the like we’re taking those steps but also making sure that we’re wanting to engage as necessary additional um service providers so that we can collect the trash on the street at the end of the day. The residents want the trash picked up. I mean I get it, I totally understand that. And so because of that, we we’ve already started to take those steps um and I just wanna say that I really do apologize for the inconvenience that our residents are experiencing, But we also understand that it is affiliated whether it’s with capacity issues uh that the contractor is having. But again at the end of the day, trash needs to be picked up. We have implemented this process before with zone two and we have lessons learned from that and we’re moving forward with um really addressing zone one well, you know, every every year we um we really focus on it improving our strategies and deployment strategies and absolutely in this existing climate with capacity issues across the board, not just with the new Orleans Police Department, even with the Louisiana State Police, uh even as it relates to our federal partners, everyone everyone is having capacity issues but with that we are working together in that collaborative manner uh to leverage every resource that we have, um the city of new Orleans, you know, that we were granted sear to rating by the federal government. Once again, that puts us in the climate of getting additional resources and services from the federal government. But again, capacity is an issue across the board, but it only speaks to our ability to leverage appropriately and we will continue to do that. And so um we’re there is um I’m very confident, I’m very confident that we will, you know, deploy our strategies as we have done in the past and we will make sure that we have *** safe Mardi Gras season. But everything that we need to do in preparation, understand we’re taking those steps right now, we never wait. We are always prepared. King’s Day is friday and we’re just wanting to again remain in lockstep right now. I’m focused on equipment, um equipment so that we have adequate equipment on the street because you know, responding to Mardi Gras in our community and in our city does speak to getting trash and debris off the street, you know, every day and night, relative to carnival. So we’re having issues with our M. D. In terms of capacity in terms of *** lot of openings in terms of supply chain issues, um, you know, supplies getting in on time uh to make timely repairs. And so right now that’s where, where my focus is making sure that we have to rent equipment. We do so, but just that we have adequate equipment on the street to respond to carnival as well. What is the status of the well and Damian is going to have its traditional route. And so the new Orleans Police Department as we get closer to and as they continue to have their planning meetings, more will be revealed to the public relative to just to our deployment strategy. Because at the end of the day, the routes have to be aligned with our deployment strategy so that we can keep our residents and our visitors safe. That is the priority during carnival public safety so that public safety will influence our routes. How many, how many state troopers are we requesting? Well, you know what we request as many as they give. So we don’t put *** number to it. We say however many you know, that can be lend to the city of New Orleans, that’s what we want. And so what I’ve learned as we even get closer to these events or activities in our city, things change, you know, from day to day, week to week. And so that also determines how many can be at our disposal. So I do know that the well Col Davis as well as our governor, no doubt about that are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of our residents and our visitors during activities, whether that’s Mardi gras, whether that’s miss universe, but all of the things that happened in the city of New Orleans? Because you know, not on any given day, we have 388,000 people in our city. Although that is the population in terms of census, there’s not one day in the city of New Orleans to where we don’t have an upward in terms of that 1 88 and some hundreds of thousands, but we’ve managed millions in our city that have to be factored in, You know, when data is being used to determine how many we have on the street or what’s our crime trends or data trends. You have to really be honest about how many people are in our city any given day. And it’s definitely not that 388, it’s more than that right. Before christmas there were some rumors going around, did you ask former Chief Ferguson for to return officer Jeffrey security know what I did was making sure that the investigation uh is moving. It’s moving and it needs to, and I believe that it will be coming to *** close. But it’s about fairness, it’s about process and making sure that we’re doing the right thing and definitely not wanting any of that to be caught up in any changes. The office of Inspector General is investigating city workers committing fraud and payroll fraud? *** source told me *** few officers are involved in that list? Have you heard anything about it? And what can we do to make sure that the money is not going, being overpaid people? Sure. Well accountability, right. I believe that we have the internal controls in place. Um You can always do better. You know and if there’s areas that we need to show up and do better. Absolutely. Um I do not have any intel uh from the you said the attorney general or the org I don’t have any intel from the O. I. G. About what he’s investigating relative to payroll. You said payroll fraud in the city of New Orleans. I don’t have any intel on that. But what I do know if there are things that we need to do better we will do. But there’s nothing that’s resonated to me that there’s an issue. Okay, well thank you all so much and have *** great rest of your week and um let’s do all that we can collectively to keep our city and make our city safe. Thank you

New Orleans mayor speaks on violent crime in new year

Updated: 6:14 AM CST Jan 5, 2023

After a violent start to the New Year, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell addressed the public for the first time this year. Mayor Cantrell held a news conference at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. This comes after several days of violent crime, including a mass shooting, a triple murder investigation, and a quadruple shooting. The city of New Orleans ended 2022 with 280 murders. The NOPD also reported that car thefts were up 35%. “Now is really the time, it’s been the time, but now more than ever because we see how we started the year, we don’t want this to progress at all,” Cantrell said.New Orleans Interim Police Chief Michele Woodfork spoke to WDSU about her plan to address the surge in violent crime. That interview can be seen here. Cantrell also addressed her priorities for the new year in an exclusive interview with WDSU’s Darryl Forges. That interview can be seen here. In her Wednesday briefing, the mayor also said, when asked if she believed the District Attorney’s office was doing enough to hold criminals accountable, that more can be done. “I think that understanding the caseloads that have either been dismissed or not acted upon in a timely manner no doubt has had an impact on what happens on the street,” Cantrell said. In a statement response to WDSU, the DA’s office wrote in part: “The fact of the matter, though, is that only 30.9% of the murders involving firearms and 22.6% of the non-fatal shootings that were committed in 2022 have resulted in an arrest that even reached the DA’s Office in the first place. We can’t prosecute what we’re not referred. But for those violent crimes that result in arrest, we will vigorously prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”

NEW ORLEANS —

After a violent start to the New Year, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell addressed the public for the first time this year.

Mayor Cantrell held a news conference at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

This comes after several days of violent crime, including a mass shooting, a triple murder investigation, and a quadruple shooting.

The city of New Orleans ended 2022 with 280 murders. The NOPD also reported that car thefts were up 35%.

“Now is really the time, it’s been the time, but now more than ever because we see how we started the year, we don’t want this to progress at all,” Cantrell said.

New Orleans Interim Police Chief Michele Woodfork spoke to WDSU about her plan to address the surge in violent crime.

That interview can be seen here.

Cantrell also addressed her priorities for the new year in an exclusive interview with WDSU’s Darryl Forges. That interview can be seen here.

In her Wednesday briefing, the mayor also said, when asked if she believed the District Attorney’s office was doing enough to hold criminals accountable, that more can be done.

“I think that understanding the caseloads that have either been dismissed or not acted upon in a timely manner no doubt has had an impact on what happens on the street,” Cantrell said.

In a statement response to WDSU, the DA’s office wrote in part: “The fact of the matter, though, is that only 30.9% of the murders involving firearms and 22.6% of the non-fatal shootings that were committed in 2022 have resulted in an arrest that even reached the DA’s Office in the first place. We can’t prosecute what we’re not referred. But for those violent crimes that result in arrest, we will vigorously prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”