NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (February 14, 2008) – Is Mayor Nagin pointing a gun at police chief Warren Riley?A picture which ran in the Wednesday, February 13 edition of the Times-Picayune suggests that Mayor C. Ray Nagin's handling of a new M-4 gun in playfully pointing at the police chief.However, the full video of the as taken by WDSU television might not be conclusive.
The photograph has opened a “fire” storm of criticism which the city believes is unfair.
The New Orleans Mayor is suggesting the full which showed on the television indicates that that Mayor Nagin did not point the gun at Police Superintendent Warren Riley as City says the photograph suggests. The Mayor’s office said that “Rather, the photo was taken as Mayor Nagin was lowering the gun he had been holding. The Times-Picayune printed a clarification of the photograph in today's newspaper.”
The Mayor has been under intense scrutiny since Katrina for comments and actions which he joked about during the Rex parade with the King of Rex.
The video and photo were taken during a press conference to announce that NOPD has obtained new state-of-the-art crime-fighting equipment that includes armored vehicles; a mobile command system; new riot gear; a SkywatchTower that allows police to view activity from 30-feet above ground; new passenger buses; and a new prisoner van.
I'm not a big Nagin fan; nevertheless I did not think anything bad when I saw the photo in the paper. Although one should always treat a firearm as though is loaded and not point it at anyone, perhaps C-Ray is not familiar with these safety rules; this story is not newsworthy, IMHO. Written by kerry fox
on 2/18/2008
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