Here we are 12 days into 2012 and already in New Orleans, Louisiana, we've seen ten (10) people killed. How do we address recurring crime in this city? Do we blame the police? Do we blame the city's leadership? Do we blame the ordinary citizen? Do we blame society? The answer to all of those questions is an emphatic HELL YES! Below I will outline why we have to blame everyone as a whole for the state of our city.
Let's start with blaming the police since that comes so easy for all of us. I fault the police department for failing to grow a united pair of cohunas to stand up to the community and it's leadership, and say we're taking our streets back. Currently the morale in the police department is the lowest I've ever seen it. I would venture to say it's at an all time low. You have police officers that come to work for 8.35 hours every day who refuse to stop suspicious people, vehicles, etc. Why you ask? It's because when something happens they aren't supported; by their leadership or the community. When are we going to allow the police to be the police?
I'll move on to the City's Leadership, specifically Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu and the police chief, Dr. Ronal W. Serpas. Mayor Landrieu is adamantly opposed to doing anything that "could" negatively affect him or his political identity directly, unless of course it involves the replacement of Serpas. It should be obvious to everyone that this guy is out for himself. Chief Serpas on the other hand is only worried about being published in some journal regarding the problems in New Orleans. To be an effective leader, you must first and foremost be a great motivator of people. Currently the good Dr is not doing anything to motivate his people. You can't expect your personnel to work and bust their asses for you when you and the and the mayor have both publicly admonished the entire department for your political benefit. How can you out of one side of your mouth ask the officers to go out and be proactive and out of the other side call the entire department criminals and thugs? This is completely unacceptable and more importantly discouraging. I can't forget that the Chief publicly berates his commanders on a weekly basis about things occurring within their areas of responsibility. Again, good job Chief! That'll make them want to work hard for you. Oh, not to forget the "Mission One" assignments, where administrative staff people work the streets and answer calls for service once a month. While this may have been a nice idea, it wasn't thought out very thoroughly, nor was it executed well. You send these administrative staff people out and tell them to answer CFS in unmarked, il-equipped vehicles and tell them that reports must be entered into the Electronic Police Reporting system, but also tell them that they are bound by time limits on completing the reports. This is ludicrous. How do you expect them to complete paperwork when they don't have the proper equipment to do so? Lastly for the Chief & Mayor, for 10 days straight there were special events in the city and officers were not allowed to make any overtime. You changed their shifts and hours to make it appear that tourists were safe. News flash, any tourist that was still in the city Tuesday night received a large dose of reality. Oh Mr. Mayor, real nice touch to send an email to city employees the night of Wednesday, January 11, 2012 to tell them to support the Saints, when the community didn't hear from you about the 8 people shot the same day. Real nice leadership!!
The community & society play just as important a role in this mess as the other parties mentioned above. Until the members of this community step up and say we're not accepting this anymore, we'll continue to have murder after murder. I've said before that the leaders in the clergy should be marching for every murder, not murder number 150 or for the so-called innocents. Where were they at murder number 1 of 2012? The community first and foremost needs to support its police department and other public service employees. Finally we have to teach and discipline our children. The children of today are tomorrow's future and with more and more of them committing more violent crime, our future looks very sorry!
Finally one last bit of advice for the police department's leadership. Stop thinking and brainwashing the officers to believe that they are superior to other departments. With the crime problems in this city, we should be partnering with our brethren in uniform right here in the city, not those from across parish lines. In the city alone, we have several law enforcement agencies, i.e. NOPD, Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, Orleans Levee District Police, Port of New Orleans Harbor Police, Crescent City Connection Police, Delgado, Loyola, SUNO, Tulane, Dillard, UNO campus police departments. Start utilizing your resources and allow these agencies to assist in combating crime in this damn city. Problem is, NOPD degrades anybody that doesn't wear a Star & Crescent badge! News flash, if you are involved in a life or death situation, you wouldn't care if the dog catcher assisted you, give respect to the other agencies and they'll begin to respect you!
Just my $.02 as a concerned citizen and law enforcement officer in the City of New Orleans!!!
Readers, please comment and tell the author what you think. How do you feel we can fix what is obviously a broken city?
ReplyDeleteAs an employee of the city I 100% agree with the statement that the city doesn't support or back-up their employees. You have officers and admin personnel that are away from their family 8+ hours a day and there is no appreacation for the hard work/dedication that is done. The citizens are always quick to say "the police don't do anything" but without the help of the community how can they do their job efficently? The citizens are the eyes in the city, and they fail to understand that. Something as simple as "ma'm did you see what he (perp) had on" is answered with an attitude. Well if the information isn't given, how do the police know who they're looking for.
ReplyDeleteThe police department needs a major make-over, starting with the police chief. He doesn't support his officers/staff and it shows. The blame is always pointed in another direction other than his. And the citizens are not aware of the duties of a police officer. If the citizens start handling their (minor) problems before calling the police, maybe there would be more units on the street to help combat crime. The police is not there to tame your 12 y/o son, that's the parents job. The police is not there to ask your "boyfriend" to leave, you shouldn't have him there in the first place if ya'll don't get along.
The majority of the crime is people that know each other, drug related, gang related, etc. so maybe they will all kill each other and rid the crime problem themselves.
Thank you for the response. I agree with your entire response. Wish more people would comment. Hang in there, things will get better, I can't see them getting much worse!!!
DeleteI agree with most of it but even before you go trying to stop the crimes you have to figure out why there are happening, and they are happening mostly because a lot of our youth have nothing to do but run the streets. We have basketball courts with no goals, if you go to a field they tell you that you cannot play any sports on it. Sports are a big thing in young people's life because it can show you so many positive characteristics, but if all you know is how to hustle and load up a gun what choice do you have?
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that sports play a very important role in the lives of our youth, the real problem is that they don't see enough "real men or women" involved in their lives. Too often the only role model they have is the older brother or cousin that sells dope or the mother whose boyfriend sells dope. However, sports should be back in schools ASAP.
DeleteThis really saddens me I grew up there and each year crime gets worse I would like for the city and community to support NOPD. I would like for parents to stop selling crack and other drugs because the apple don't fall far from the tree. All those criminal acts are learned behavior they watch what others around them have done. The only part the didn't get was that will get caught go to jail or end up dead. The people of this great city should take a stand you all out number the criminals. Department heads stand with your officiers support their efforts take the time and become actively involved. Get out from behind those desk go out on patrol sometimes. Protect your interest which is the city and the welfare of the community and especially the officiers of NOPD...may God bless and keep each one of you. However, in order to leave YOU must be able to follow....
ReplyDeleteIn order to LEAD.....You must be able to follow.....just reposted this part because I noticed an error...department heads, commander. Chief....let's step it up get control of the city...
DeleteCassieF, you can't expect commanders to support their officers when they don't have the support of the Superintendent. Especially those Lieutenants who were appointed Police Commanders. If they do something to piss Serpas off, they are reduced in rank from Commander to Lieutenant. They have everything to lose. Serpas needs to allow the district commanders to run their districts how they see fit, with very little involvement.
DeleteI'd like to add my 2 cents here...
ReplyDeleteI live in the St.Roch area nearer to Florida Ave. I've been living here since just after Katrina. I had high hopes for my neighborhood, enjoy most of my neighbors, and have tried to notify NOPD and Crimestoppers to no avail.
I have called NOPD, Talked to officers in person including the Mayor and Serpas when on one of their "crime walks", to inform them I have pictures of kids with guns. These kids hang out in the abandoned yards of Road Home houses and flaunt them to each other. This one tells me to notify that one, that one tells me to notify this one.
My neighbors and myself have called NOPD numerous times on those who consistently cause problems with fighting, shooting of guns and trying to stab each other. When they do come an hour later, it's all over, they stay in their cars, and because they don't see anything they drive off.
We called NOPD when 7 girls were beating the living crap out of another girl in her own driveway and it took 5 calls to 911 and 40 minutes later, they finally show up. Several of us had to flag them down to make them stop as they just kept driving on by and had no plans of getting out of their car.
I have offered my services and my house to several other officers, in order to give them the opportunity to see and catch the drug dealers on my corner. I can sit on my front porch and point out no less than 20 that I know for a fact deal their crack, I can even tell you where some of them stash their stuff as I watch them walk to get their drugs for their customers.
And it's not just here in my "hood". I witnessed a drug deal going on as I was walking during the BCS and walked up to an officer who was leaning on his car at Royal in front of Rouses and told him flat out there were two people dealing drugs not 400 feet in front of him...he TOTALLY ignored me.
So...when the police are willing to work with those who ARE respectful of NOPD and want officers to help, maybe then more people would become involved. But what's the point when our cries for help go unheard? I won't try to be involved as much now, to many have taken control, and I'm afraid the wrong person will find out I'm actually on NOPD's side and it will cost me my life.
Anonymous, I ask again, why would any police officer in his/her right mind want to risk life and limb for a department that doesn't support him/her? The majority of the officers on the job are young and vibrant, and most of them were very highly motivated at one point. The culture within the department has to change in order to effect successful change throughout the community. Thanks for replying.
DeleteWhy this is certainly words of wisdom it is not doing anything for little Iraq (New Orleans). I completely agree with your entire points of view. As an ex-police officer I can relate. You become afraid to do your job thinking you may get a citizens complaint or fired. The citizens scream police corruption and help in the same breath. I think you should run for office. Instead of blogging ideas make them count and do your part in taking back the streets of New Orleans.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anonymous! I certainly plan to take your advice and seek a political office in the future, the very near future. It will be an uphill battle though. It's hard for someone such as myself, that wants to effect true change in this city. I will give it my best shot though!!!
Deleteis it possible that the lack of parenting is causing these "kids" to commit violent crime ? If so, why is that the fault of "leadership" because these kids were born at least 15 years ago and are now committing crimes. STOP BLAMING SOMEONE ELSE and don't expect someone else to fix your problem. lack of baby daddy's is the real problem.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, please don't misinterpret my blog. Notice, I stated that everyone is to blame. One of the last things I said was that we need to "teach and discipline our children". I still say that there is a lack of leadership in this City. Be it on the part of the Mayor & Police Chief, religious leaders, parents, teachers, etc. This community as a whole has to step up and take our city back. I appreciate your opinion, please feel free to continue to correspond with me.
DeleteWhere is the national guard? We could sure use them. And if u flag them down they will stop. They will check your back door and windows while you are away too. When everybody is downtown like serpas had all the cops there too? What's up with that? The national guard would still be in the neighborhood while u are at the damm game. Bring the guard back please.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, thanks for your comment. While I understand your cries for the National Guard, it presents a completely different set of problems. In what capacity would they serve? What would be their Rules of Engagement? You have to remember that a majority of the guardsmen are not law enforcement officers. They are not aware of the ins an out of the 4th Amendment and/or the City & State laws. So even of they were here and were able to roll up on a crime in progress, they would still tie up an officer to actually handle the report. That could potentially lead to chain of custody situations as far as evidence goes or questions about witnesses.
DeleteIf they were to be brought in, there would have to be very specific duties.
Concerned Citizen/Law Officer: Jan 21,2015 12:47am
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,I was just going through the comments and all them hit the point,but it really starts at home. The laws that those people in Baton Rouge put on the books, have the parents refusing to disciplent there children fearing that they would go to jail. Then you have children having children.
You make a very valid point. The answer to that is to put people in Baton Rouge that understand what we're going through and are truly interested in helping to fix the problem. That starts with voting!
DeleteI loved your points. NOPD recruits are told in the academy that "you're NOPD, everybody in the country knows who NOPD is and you put that on your resume and you can work anywhere you want". Well, NOPD's focus should be to take back the city and that means they are going to have to have help. Put aside the cocky attitudes and realize that there are a tremendous amount of resources as you mentioned that would be of great assistance if NOPD would realize they are broken.
ReplyDeleteSerpas has these ridiculous ideas that no more help moral for the officers or the citizens. Releasing arrest records of murder victims, REALLY? What is the point of that? To gather statistics for his next article. POINT: releasing that information paints a picture to the public that you aren't probably gonna be working as hard to solve that homicide. It makes NOPD look cold, uncaring and downright cruel. OR better yet, stir up some racial tension while you're at it. I am white, but I can pretty much bet that a homicide victim living on ST. Charles, well, that arrest report would get lost somewhere along the way. Murder is murder, white, black, record or squeaky clean....no one deserves to be gunned down in the street. I worked at NOPD, I've been dealt a really bad hand and, well, am fighting to get back. IF I'm not mistaken, didn't Serpas get into some trouble before he left NOPD to go to TN? Well, shouldn't his mistakes be brought up every time he makes a decision? Its only fair. Serpas is not a leader, he is Landrieu's puppet and somebody needs to cut the strings!
The kids are our future. They need to be educated a lot better at home and at school. It used to be when I was growing up cops, firefighters, teachers and doctors were roll models. Now, rappers, gangsters and drug dealers seem to fill that role. There needs to be more positive influence for these kids. More parents, teachers and support systems telling them that they can succeed and the community is behind them. Instead people look the other way and these young people see the criminal element getting away with what ever they want, driving fancy cars and laughing at the police
Anyway, great read, and here's my 2 cent's concerned citizen and NOPD officer..hope to get back there one day!!!!