Justice Department Moves To Reform Notorious New Orleans Police Department

Talking Points Memo:

The federal criminal investigation of the police shootings of civilians on Danziger Bridge in post-Katrina New Orleans is just part of what the Justice Department acknowledges is an intensive review of the city's notorious police department. One option under review, TPMmuckraker has learned, is filing a civil rights lawsuit against the city in a move similar to the one the Justice Department took against the Los Angeles Police Department a decade ago.

Read the whole story: Talking Points Memo

Comments

[KriTiKiT]

02:58 PM on 04/13/2010

it's the sheriffs too! reform segal

[dcnola]

02:31 PM on 04/13/2010

Hopefully, they will also investigate the residents in the Algiers neighborhood who admitted to shooting only black people following the hurricane. Several of these people are on video proudly confessing that they targeted blacks, yet they have never faced any punishment for their actions. Maybe the feds will look into this situation as well.

[missdboat]

02:00 PM on 04/13/2010

NOPD has been dirty for years. We welcome the feds. We welcome the attention. We welcome the changes. We welcome the investigations. We have a new mayor who will take over in a few weeks and we will happily say goodbye to Nagin and superintendent Riley. GOOD FREAKING RIDDANCE!!

[carrot-top]

02:14 PM on 04/13/2010

Nagin and Riley; are they Obama supporters?

[missdboat]

02:18 PM on 04/13/2010

The NOPD has been dirty a lot longer then Obama has been president.

[apresdeluge]

05:36 PM on 04/13/2010

Hi missdboat! Hope you are enjoying this beautiful Spring day in the Big Easy. Once again, I agree with everhting you say above.

Just ignore carrot-top. Just looking for trouble and trying to stir the pot. Obviously knows nothing about New Orleans or its police department. Seems to have forgotten that Katrina took place under the Bush debacle.

[missdboat]

06:06 PM on 04/13/2010

Hi Apresdeluge. Isnt it grand outside? What a wonderful city. Not even carrot top could bum me out.

[Hoosierbrad]

01:48 PM on 04/13/2010

It has been tried before. Good luck trying to clean up that mess.

[Waltfl]

01:21 PM on 04/13/2010

"So-called 14141 actions, named after the relevant section of the law, fell out of the favor during the Bush years, when enforcement of civil rights laws languished across the board. "

Who would have thought that?

[Mrtnz]

01:15 PM on 04/13/2010

This is the same problem confronted by all cities. All police forces are nothing but a standing army. The city of NY has a larger force than most countries. Most police depts become corrupt and gangland thugs when the comander leaves the same group of men to become too familiar, doesn't rotate them. For example the same group that always work the grave yard shift will coalence into a gang type.

[x76]

12:48 PM on 04/13/2010

I remember video of cops going door-to-door to confiscate legal, registered guns. Nothing could motivate a citizen to arm themselves more than seeing cops confiscating legal, registered guns from citizens.

[ZiloRS]

12:59 PM on 04/13/2010

That's for sure.

[deepfreezevideo]

12:43 PM on 04/13/2010

OMG call TEH oath keeperz!

[deepfreezevideo]

12:42 PM on 04/13/2010

OMG a Federal takeover of TEH POLICE
OMG TEH SOCIALISMZ!!!! Quick, form TEH New Orleans MILITIAZZ!!!

[Whinger]

12:41 PM on 04/13/2010

Shuffle the deck, but don't change it?

[tomtall]

12:33 PM on 04/13/2010

I was in NO a couple of years before Katrina, walking down Bourbon St., and as I got to the corner of Bourbon and Canal St., there was one of their finest, in his 'squad' car, at a light, with an open tall boy can of beer between his legs......to serve and protect!!!

[AirForce Vet]

12:11 PM on 04/13/2010

Don’t stop with New Orleans. There are other cities that should be investigated as well.

[donitacurioso]

12:06 PM on 04/13/2010

During the Katrina news coverage I was shocked to see police officers looting a Walmart. The camera followed them around and they acted like it was no big deal and kept filling their shopping carts.
A friend of mine who is an undercover California Highway Patrol officer was sent to New Orleans to help with the situation. He wasn't there to police civilians, he was there to police the police. He was told if a cop pulls a gun on you, shoot to kill. Because if you don't, they will surely kill you. He said it was pretty freakin' awful.

[carrot-top]

12:53 PM on 04/13/2010

When you lower the standards to get on the Dept. and recruit from schools in crime ridden neighborhoods; of which carried Obama in the 2008 election, the NOPD is what you get.
I just feel bad for the good cops.

[missdboat]

01:55 PM on 04/13/2010

So it is Obamas fault somehow? Or Obama supporters?

[larry278]

01:21 PM on 04/13/2010

Attny Gen Holder & the DOJ is going to need the best of luck to change NOPD for the better & use the best judgment in reforming NOPD. Can it be done; who knows?

[Jtt]

12:03 PM on 04/13/2010

Good - Stay in town a while.

[motoGpifupleez]

11:59 AM on 04/13/2010

But this didn't happen. Remember? All the apologists told us that this was a made up story. Remember?