opinion

Viewpoint: Politics is in the way of public safety, crime watchdog says

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Raphael Goyeneche, head of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, said Wednesday (July 28) that the city’s political leadership “must step up and give the NOPD the resources they need to protect and serve the community. Politics needs to get out of the way of public safety. Citizens want to feel safe in their neighborhoods.”          

Earlier this week, the MCC released the Orleans Parish Violent Crime Maps, a three-year look at violent crime by police district. Also included are results from the New Orleans Crime Coalition’s 2021 Police Satisfaction and Police Policymaking surveys. 

The majority of Orleans Parish voters (64%) who participated in the surveys clearly stated they believe the city is not safe. An even larger majority (74%) said that the crime problem has worsened over the past year.

New commander to take over NOPD’s Second District

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The New Orleans Police Department announced a change of command in the Second District, which oversees police services for Audubon, Carrollton, Hollygrove and other Uptown areas. Capt. Jeff Walls, the Second District commander since 2019, assumed command of the Eighth District on Friday. He replaced Capt. Anthony Caprera, who retired Friday after a 37-year career with NOPD. It’s Walls’ second leadership assignment to the Eighth District, which comprises the French Quarter, CBD, Marigny and Warehouse District. On Monday (June 21), Lt. Eric Gillard, the second in command in the Second District for the past four years, will be promoted to the rank of captain and assume command of the Second District.

NOPD

Puppy shot to death by officer investigating complaint in Lower Garden District

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A puppy was killed by a New Orleans police officer Saturday night in the Lower Garden District, the New Orleans Police Department reported. The department’s Public Integrity Bureau is investigating the shooting, which occurred about 9:30 p.m. in the 1400 block of Felicity Street. The 18-week-old puppy, named Apollo, was recently adopted by the Lower Garden District residents, NOLA.com reports. The officer was investigating a complaint over loud voices at the home.

Suspect, vehicle sought in Claiborne car wash homicide

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The NOPD is seeking to locate and identify a person of interest and a vehicle in the investigation of a homicide that occurred Wednesday (Feb. 17) in the 3700 block of South Claiborne Avenue. The pictured suspect was seen at the Claiborne Avenue car wash where Bruce Gaten, 31, was shot to death at 3:19 p.m. The suspect was seen wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt with an unknown image on the front, dark colored jeans and dark shoes. The unknown suspect was observed driving the pictured silver 2016 Honda Pilot bearing Louisiana plate ZRT 457 with a bike rack affixed to the rear. The Honda was reported stolen.

crime

Police arrest one suspect, seek another in string of armed carjackings

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The NOPD has arrested Joshua Dean, 18, and has obtained an arrest warrant for Robert Garrett, 23, in the ongoing investigation of multiple armed carjacking incidents in Uptown neighborhoods and in the Navarre neighborhood and Jefferson Parish. NOPD Second District detectives determined that four recent armed carjacking incidents were related, three in the Uptown area. Two occurred in Carrollton on Feb. 9, one in the 8100 block of Green Street, targeting two women delivering food. It was quickly followed by another on Cohn and Pine streets.

NOPD

Sobriety checkpoint planned for tonight

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The NOPD’s Traffic Division will conduct an upcoming sobriety checkpoint within Orleans Parish. The checkpoint will be in operation from 9 p.m. on Thursday (Feb. 4) through Friday (Feb. 5) at 5 a.m.
During this time, motorists will experience minimal delays at the checkpoint and should have the proper documentation available if requested by officers (proof of vehicle insurance, driver’s license, etc.)

NOPD

NOPD announces change of command in the Sixth District

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Capt. Ronnie Stevens has retired from the New Orleans Police Department after commanding the Sixth District since 2014. Stevens is replaced by Capt. Preston Bax, who most recently served as assistant commander of the Fourth District in Algiers. The Sixth District covers the Central City, Garden District and Irish Channel neighborhoods. Before he took over as commander of the Sixth District, Stevens supervised investigations in the First District, which covers Mid-City and Treme, and in the Seventh District in New Orleans East.  His 23-year NOPD career also included stints in the Special Operations Division’s Tactical Unit, Bomb Squad and Marine Unit. “Capt. Stevens has been a great colleague and friend during our time together in the NOPD,” said NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson in a press release.

public safety

Sobriety checkpoints planned for Wednesday night

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The NOPD’s Traffic Division will conduct an upcoming sobriety checkpoint within Orleans Parish. The checkpoint will be in operation from 9 p.m. on Wednesday (March 18) through Thursday (March 19) at 5 a.m.
During this time, motorists will experience minimal delays at the checkpoint and should have the proper documentation available if requested by officers (proof of vehicle insurance, driver’s license, etc.)

Mardi Gras

‘There will be some changes’: NOPD chief to meet with krewe captains on safety

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New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Shaun Fergusen said the NOPD will meet with the mayor’s Mardi Gras advisory committee, krewe captains and others to review Carnival safety. “We lost two lives this Carnival season,” he said during a press conference on Monday. “It’s very disheartening.” During the Nyx parade on Wednesday, Belinda ‘Puggy’ Carmouche, 58, was run over and killed by the second section of tandem float on Magazine Street. Then, on Saturday night, Joseph Sampson, 58, was fatally struck when he got between two units of a three-section Endymion float at South Galvez and Canal Street. After Sampson’s death, the mayor and public safety officials outlawed tandem floats for the rest of the season, sending krewes scrambling to break up floats and find additional tractors and drivers.