CANTRELL ADMINISTRATION INTRODUCES ORDINANCES TO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY
NEW ORLEANS — The Cantrell Administration this week introduced legislation to implement additional solutions aimed at improving the recruitment and retention of the City’s public safety personnel and to expand the New Orleans Police Department’s (NOPD) access to crime fighting technology.
“National labor force shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic continue to significantly impact NOPD staffing levels and other City public safety agencies,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “I want to thank Councilmembers Eugene Green, Oliver Thomas and Freddie King for sponsoring this legislation that is a major component of our comprehensive plan to integrate critical tools into our public safety toolbox that can and will address the staff shortages that we are seeing, and will give NOPD more extensive access to the technology necessary to combat crime.”
Ordinance No. 33,633, sponsored by Councilmember Eugene Green, addresses staffing deficiencies at the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (JJIC) for detention and corrections officers and low staffing levels for the City’s Equipment Maintenance Division (EMD) for public safety vehicle repair technicians. If passed, it will automatically waive domicile requirements for these public safety-related personnel. It will also provide an opportunity for the City to hire applicants residing outside of Orleans Parish while targeting the best possible candidates, regardless of residency. A similar exemption to the Domicile Ordinance was approved in 2014 for NOPD and other public safety departments.
Ordinance No. 33,639, sponsored by Councilmembers Eugene Green, Oliver Thomas and Freddie King seeks to amend an ordinance adopted by the previous City Council, which restricted the NOPD’s use of crime surveillance technology, an essential element in the investigative duties of any law enforcement agency. This ordinance would expand NOPD’s access to all tools necessary to identify and locate perpetrators of violent crime.
The City hopes the Council will consider both ordinances at an upcoming Council meeting.
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