
It’s standard procedure during carnival season for State Troopers to assist New Orleans Police but this time, the extra officers will stay on after Fat Tuesday. Louisiana State Police Public Information Officer, Lt. Melissa Matey said they anticipate sending more than 130 troopers to the Crescent City for Mardi Gras.
“We’re working right now to finalize operational and staffing plans to put a permanent troop in the City of New Orleans,” said Matey.
During his campaign, Governor Jeff Landry promised to address rising crime, and that included increasing law enforcement in the state’s largest city. Matey said it’s a partnership with Attorney General Liz Murrell’s office, the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department. Matey said the goal is for State Police to have a permanent presence in New Orleans….
“To help curb the violent crime in and around the French Quarter but also in other areas of the city and we’re going to work very closely with the New Orleans Police Department on any of those finalized plans,” said Matey.
Over the years the number of police officers in New Orleans has dwindled, which Matey said is a problem across the country. She said recruiting individuals to a career in law enforcement has become more difficult. And to fill vacancies elsewhere in the state when troopers are relocated to New Orleans, Matey said the department will increase recruitment.
“This is a recruiting section that we are happy to have. They are going to be solely focused on recruiting the best and the brightest, not just people from Louisiana but also from outside of our state,” said Matey.
Matey said they are also going to hold a transitional academy for potential troopers who already have law enforcement experience to increase the number of troopers in the state in addition to the traditional academy.
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