Posted on 09/30/2005 8:35:12 PM PDT by John Semmens
Ray Nagin, mayor of New Orleans, lashed back at critics after the FBI discovered that up to 700 so-called members of the city police force simply did not exist. Funding for many of these officers was provided by the federal government.
"During the storm and aftermath we'd heard reports that hundreds of New Orleans police officers had deserted their post," said an FBI spokesman. "Further investigation indicates that these posts had never been manned and the funds supposedly paid in wages has disappeared."
"Sure we overstated the number of officers on the force," said Nagin. "We did this to deter crime."
As Nagin explained it, the phantom officers were used as a decoy to frighten would-be offenders. "Just as George Washington lit fake campfires to lull the British troops before his surprise attack at Princeton, we in New Orleans have employed a similar strategy."
The effectiveness of Nagin's alleged strategy is in doubt, though. New Orleans has one of the highest crime rates per capita in the nation.
As for what happened to the funds that were supposed to have paid police salaries, Nagin asserted that they were used to hire consultants and purchase computer software needed to sustain New Orleans' "virtual police force."
"The software had to be custom made," said Nagin. "It's not something you can buy at CompUSA. Software designers don't come cheap. Neither do the public relations experts who developed our media campaign."
The media campaign featured TV spots of various street people implying that they could be undercover cops. In one ad, an apparently toothless derelict looks into the camera and says "I be watchin' you. So, don't you go misbehavin'."
Unimpressed by Nagin's explanation, the FBI asserted it will continue its investigation.
(Excerpt) Read more at azconservative.org ...
WHAT THE F.....?
When does this circus story end???? why are we pouring billions into this f...g swamp?
and the Dummies have the nerve to tell US about a QUAGMIRE?
hire halliburton to police NEW ORLEANS NOW
( Good thing I didn't get upset about this story.)
Did the federal government pay him in Monopoly money?
Stunningly stupid admission.
Grab the popcorn!
Monthly salaries for 700 people adds up to a little bit more than the latest version of Windows. But - just as long as the strip clubs are open - what does a few missing bucks really matter?
Why does this sound like Tammany Hall with the tale of his little tin box on dime at a time is how he got Freaking Wealthy; all over again?
Ray Nagin, mayor of New Orleans, lashed back at critics after the FBI discovered that up to 700 so-called members of the city police force simply did not exist. Funding for many of these officers was provided by the federal government.
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This is beautiful. Perfect representation of a corrupt, crime-ridden TUGOCRAT local government. What a real piece of work this Nagin thug is...I see no reason that the feds could not prosecute this criminal for misuse of government funds, along with a whole host of other items....
Man, this guy's going to jail. It's going to be fun watching it.
Good idea. In my opinion, someone was living pretty nice off all this extra cash.
whats gonna be funny is the next election in NOLA
ROTFLMAO!
...and we used the money to party. Vegas is good.
Please tell me this is a joke.
Is this from the Onion?
LOL....joke of the year???
Satire?
Over here!
Duhhhhh...
What is the date he said this? The source? Etc.
I think this is supposed to be satire.
I think.
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