Inquiring minds want to know what happened to New Orleans Police Chief Warren Riley. According to a police officer who contacted me today, Chief Riley moved up a promotion ceremony last week so he could “leave for Australia.” We don’t know whether Riley went to Australia for a global warming conference, to meet Ray Nagin on vacation or to interview for a job with Ed Blakely.
We don’t know when the Chief is scheduled to come back, but we do know that while he was away two more people were killed in weekend slayings. We do know that the NOPD ignored a state law and failed to notify the legislative auditor that $200,000 was missing from the evidence room. And, we do know that a member of the District Attorney’s office is raising questions about whether rapes are being downgraded to lesser crimes to improve crime statistics in New Orleans.
While all of these controversies swirl around the department, the Chief is not available to handle questions because he is out of the country. Every person is entitled to some sort of vacation, even Chief Riley; however, the worst time for a Police Chief to leave New Orleans is during the summer months when crime is at its worst.Although his leadership is so lacking he might as well stay in Australia and leave the department to his underlings.
Over the past few weeks, New Orleans has been suffering through a crime wave that has boosted murder statistics above last year’s level. Of course, last year, New Orleans was named the murder capital of the nation and was ranked as number three in the world for murders per capita.. This year, it looks like no other city will be able to challenge New Orleans for the number one murder ranking. What an accomplishment, call tourism officials! Let’s get the brochures ready!
Police officers report that the 12-hour shifts are not working to reduce crime. In fact, the longer shifts hurt department morale and add more stress for many officers who are in school, hold other jobs or have families.
As the constant drumbeat of negative stories continue about the NOPD, the person in charge, Mayor Ray Nagin, seems oblivious. He is not interested in making a change in leadership at the department and does not seem to really care much about the high crime rate. He has not taken any high profile steps to deal with the city’s most vexing problem.
As more public housing becomes available and the population of New Orleans continues to grow, the crime problem will only grow worse. Yet, the people in charge, Nagin and Riley, are AWOL. The Mayor just returned from Mexico after having spent ten days in China and Australia and now Chief Riley is in Australia. It must be nice to hold the top jobs in New Orleans city government. You can see the world on the taxpayer’s dime and don’t have to worry about doing your job. Nothing gets done, the problems intensify and the people stay quiet because they are used to inaction and have such low expectations.
It is a vicious cycle that will not be broken until a new Mayor is elected and a new Chief of Police is appointed. Until then, expect the usual public relations spin from City Hall, inappropriate travel from the top officials, and horrific crime to continue in New Orleans.
Jeff Crouere is the Host of “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. He is the Political Analyst for WGNO-TV ABC26 and a Columnist for selected publications. For more information, visit his web site at RingsidePolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com
"At wast! The wong arm of the waw is cwosing in on you. You scwewy wabbit."
Written by Elmer J. Fudd
on 7/14/2009
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IS THERE A CURFEW OR NOT?
The city and NOPD have invited underage people to party it up in the quarter at midnight. 200 young thugs, the VERY ONES that commit crime in this city were welcomed to club hush, where they TERRORIZED TOURISTS, GOT INTO FIGHTS, AND SHOT SOMEONE. IF THERE IS A CURFEW THEN WHY WOULD A BUSINESSS BE ALLOWED TO HAVE AN EVENT, THAT REQUIRES BREAKING THE LAW TO ATTEND?? IF THERE IS A CURFEW WHERE THE HECK WAS RILEY AND NOPD. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT NOPD SHOWED UP TO TAKE A REPORT. Written by CLUB HUSH
on 7/14/2009
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One thing you really don't seem to get. You state that Nagin "really doesn't care about the high crime". YOU DON'T GET IT. NAGIN BENEFITS FROM HIGH CRIME. THE HIGHER THE CRIME RATE THE BETTER. HE NOT ONLY DOESN'T WANT IT TO FALL, HE WANTS IT TO INCREASE. It is CLEAR AND SIMPLE, but so INSANE that no one even dares to think of it. 1...Nagin has openly stated his racists view that he wants NOLA to be black. 2....Nagin has provided many incentives for black people to live here...3...However, the NUMBER ONE WAY TO MAKE A CITY BLACK IS??? HIGH CRIME. THIS HAS BEEN PROVEN CITY AFTER CITY, COAST TO COAST, CRIME GOES UP, CITY GETS BLACKER.......NAGIN HAS BEEN SUCESSFUL AT ESTABLISHING HIGH CRIME, HE HAS BROUGHT THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT IN ON PURPOSE. Written by ATTENTION JEFF-SMELL THE COFFEE
on 7/14/2009
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Riley is probably in Australia on the taxpayer's dollar. Make one better understand why Riley squeezed that extra $1 million out of the city council. First class to Australia for Riley and his retinue is a lot of money. Certainly, he'll follow the example of his good friend Ray Nagin and take along an executive body guard or two and a woman at tax payer expense, first class. Riley is a disgrace to any police force but a shining example of what's wrong with NOPD and the crime in this city. first, all that money that was stolen by police from the evidence room (maybe Riley is using it to pay for his trip or for other goodies), then the mislabeling of crimes in the city so that he can claim that he's doing a good job, and then there's the high rate of murders that he and Nagain seem not to care about. Perhspa they are indeed good "Branding" for our city and help swell the city coffers so that the officials can tap into the money. Written by Noladude
on 7/13/2009
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Inquiring minds want to know what happened to New Orleans Police Chief Warren Riley. According to a police officer who contacted me today, Chief Riley moved up a promotion ceremony last week so he could “leave for 
