Public Safety

Immediate, actionable tactics to reduce violence and improve public safety and quality-of-life.

 NOPD Recruiting & Retention

Improve recruiting outcomes via clear objectives, increased funding and improved processes 

  • Support development of NOPD Human Resource division to improve retention
  • Systemically identify and eliminate process hurdles
  • Identify additional funding for NOPJF for recruiting
  • Support NOPD/NOPJF to achieve targets and encourage accountability through regular meetings and public reporting
  • Address the issues and factors identified by the NOPD internal morale and retention survey
  • Offer signing bonus to lateral transfers
  • Improve communication to public about NOPD successes and achievements

NOPD Pay & Benefits

Implement pay raises to help recruit and retain NOPD

  • Increase pay raise above current 2% cost-of-living adjustment, or higher; allow merit increases
  • Fund and pay the promised incentive dollars – $5k / $10k / $15k / $20k
  • Fund the “Great Place to Work” program to enable merit increases in the 2023 Budget
  • Ensure base pay competitive with neighboring and Gulf South departments.  Take into account differentials of perks (e.g., take-home cars) and amount of expected work (e.g. Mardi Gras)
  • Implement signing bonuses for new hires and lateral transfers
  • Increase advanced degree compensation (currently Assoc. $1k, BA $2k and MA $3k) 
  • Allow officers to immediately apply for Senior Police Officer (SPO) status upon reaching 3 years
  • Offer assistance with home-buying, and other meaningful benefits

Technology

Facing prolonged manpower shortages, use technology as a force multiplier

  • Fix the tech ordinance.  Specifically, allow for appropriate use of predictive policing technology, gunshot detection, license plate reading systems, characteristic tracking of vehicles and objects, crowd management, cell site simulators, and facial recognition (when used per NOPD policy as support mechanism in investigation/warrant service, and per consent decree guidelines)
  • Expedite crime lab completion and supplemental staffing/expansion/certification of DNA lab onsite; alternatively, evaluate expansion of LSP lab model to overcome limitations
  • Bring expertise into NOPD, DA, OPSO and Courts to advise on which initiatives impact outcomes 
  • Encourage the use of electronic monitoring for violent and repeat felony offenders as a condition of bail/pretrial release
  • Develop system to provide communication and coordination across criminal justice entities
    • OCJC has made significant progress on the data side of this coordination; identify long-term integrated solution, and ensure all agencies participate fully
    • Source expertise to advise NOPD, DA, OPSO, and Courts on best-in-class data management architecture

Accountability for the Entire Criminal Justice System

Approach criminal justice as a system that must work together

  • Ensure violent offenders are held accountable, and that there is no “revolving door” that is dangerous to citizens and demoralizing for NOPD
  • Ensure a fully staffed, fully operational juvenile detention and rehabilitation facility
  • Support and improve systems to provide integrated communication and coordination across criminal justice entities

Gang Activity and Violent Crime

Continue to invest in VCAT (Violent Crime Abatement Team) and similar special-purpose teams, and prioritize gang activity and concentrated violence

  • Focus on identifying, arresting, and prosecuting violent offenders involved in gang related activities
  • Focus resources on districts with most concentrated violence
  • Continue to collaborate with federal agencies on anti-gang activities

Resources

Rethink resource strategy to adjust for lower NOPD numbers; implement “civilianization”

  • Use civilians for non-emergency responsibilities
  • Use civilians as additional digital forensic technicians
  • Expand programs like On Scene Services (non-NOPD personnel for traffic accidents)
  • Secure help from DSP/LSP on interstates
  • Use non-first-responder resources to respond to non-violent municipal ordinance complaints
  • Promote citizens’ use of Crimestoppers and other ways to assist NOPD

Community & Social Support

Increase the number and availability of social and counseling programs

  • Develop sustainable a funding mechanism to allow most effective community and city-wide programs to scale (See “Track 2 – Investment in Youth Support Services”)
  • Ensure adequate funding for mental health counseling and services
  • Pilot, evaluate, and scale interventions at high-risk adults for gun violence; and, juveniles arrested for vehicle burglaries and carjackings

Next Steps

Monitoring, assessment and accountability for these strategies will be supported by public reports every 60 days, public-facing dashboards reporting on performance of the criminal justice system, and continued efforts from the Coalition to support solutions for a better New Orleans.