It is amazing what public pressure and media attention can do. Yesterday, New Orleans Police Chief Warren Riley finally decided to do the right thing regarding misconduct within his department. Riley fired police trainee Ashley Terry, who flipped out at the Treme Community Center last week, yelling expletives and reportedly waving a firearm. The Chief also released Officer Donyell Sanchell from the department. This is the policeman who emulated Mario Andretti on the Crescent City Connection, bumped a bridge officer with his vehicle and then slapped that officer in an amazing display of arrogance. Sanchell was outraged that a bridge officer was trying to stop him from driving like a lunatic at 90 mph on the Crescent City Connection. We need to remind Mr. Sanchell and all of his colleagues that traffic laws apply to everyone, even police officers!

It is sad that it took outrage from the public for Riley to realize that these officers did not belong on the force. Riley says that '90%" of his officers are doing their jobs, but that leaves about 150 who might be a danger to the public. Such a situation cannot be tolerated any longer in New Orleans. Riley needs to continue his housecleaning until all 150 problem officers are removed.

Riley is clearly trying to appease the outraged public with these dismissals, but real questions persist about his lack of judgment. Contrast Riley's leniency with Terry and Sanchell to his rough handling of Sgt. Bob Guidry whose only offense was wearing the wrong color uniform, powder blue, on his final day of service in a decorated 35 year career. Guidry was honoring fallen comrades who died while wearing the powder blue uniform, but such a tribute did not go over well with Riley. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that this department is in trouble. Again, public outrage propelled Riley to lessen his punishment of Guidry, but it is outrageous that Guidry received any punishment at all, especially when it was announced that the department plans to return to the powder blue uniforms later on this year.

Having a police force with so many problems is a real concern. It points to a lack of leadership in the department. It also indicates problems in how officers are being recruited and trained. It seems obvious that the NOPD is rushing into the force recruits that are not qualified, have not been properly trained and have not received appropriate psychological evaluation.

Both Sanchell and Terry were evidently not fit to join the force in the first place. How could individuals with such short fuses allowed to become law enforcement officers and given a weapon?

It is time for the New Orleans City Council to form an independent review commission to investigate this department from top to bottom. The results will give the next Mayor of New Orleans the tools he or she needs to revamp this department. Citizens cannot expect much improvement until Mayor Nagin leaves City Hall, but starting with the next Mayor of New Orleans, revamping the NOPD and battling the out of control crime rate need to be top priorities. 

In the meantime, the firings need to continue until the bad actors are eliminated from this department. The next case under question involves Officer David Ellis, who pathetically investigated the Terry case, only to find there were "unfounded" complaints about her actions. It seems he did not interview any witnesses and only talked to Terry. He also reportedly joked to Terry that she should have blown away a man complaining about her behavior. Such a joker does not belong in the NOPD. Until all of these types of officers are removed, the joke is on the people of New Orleans.

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Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, "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. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.