Posted on 10/09/2005 7:19:49 AM PDT by Crackingham
State authorities are investigating allegations New Orleans police officers broke into a dealership and made off with nearly 200 cars -- including 41 new Cadillacs -- as Hurricane Katrina closed in.
''It is a very, very active investigation,'' Kris Wartelle, spokeswoman for the Louisiana attorney general, said Friday. ``We expect developments quickly.''
Wartelle would not comment on why the officers may have taken the cars or whether they were used in the line of duty.
However, the cars may have been taken before the hurricane even roared into town Aug. 29, according to the president and general manager of the dealership, Doug Stead.
Stead said the cars included 88 new Cadillacs and Chevrolets, 40 used cars, 52 customers' cars and a restored 1970 El Camino and 1966 Impala.
''We put the loss on new cars at $3.7 million,'' Stead said. ``The used cars ran another $900,000.''
When reports first surfaced last month that officers may have taken the cars, New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley said it was not considered looting because the officers patrolled in the cars.
''There were some officers who did use Cadillacs,'' Riley said. ``Those cars were not stolen.''
On Friday, police spokesman Capt. Marlon Defillo said the department's only comment was that it was cooperating with the attorney general's investigation.
Police are also investigating 12 officers for allegedly looting or failing to stop looting. And about 250 police officers -- roughly 15 percent of the force -- could face discipline for leaving their posts without permission during Katrina and its aftermath.
This could get interesting - some will remember the thread about this a couple of weeks back - the owner of the cadillac dealership made it adamantly clear that he didn't request an investigation, nor did he file a complaint. He said something to the effect of "I have to live here".
This COULD be a step to uncovering the mass corruption of one of the most (if not THE most) corrupt police forces and city governments in the US.
Wait a minute. That was a 66 Impala f'goodness sake !
Have to agree here. ;)
I like Impalas. The first car I ever wrecked was a '68 Impala(in '74).
Why Cadillacs? And especially a restored El Camino and an Impala? If the police legitimately needed to requisition vehicles during a disaster, I could understand taking SUVs and pickup trucks. You can haul more people and equipment and get through rougher terrain. But the fact that they took luxury cars instead of working vehicles points to pure theft instead of police need in an emergency.
All that's missing is a picture of looter man helping a NO cop steal a caddilac.
Why didn't they patrol in school busses?
That, if true, is reeeeeellleeyy bad.
I guess Nagin just meant the police and other city workers were, euphemistically, "otherwise engaged."
HF
When we rebuild New Orleans why dont we put a big fence around it and keep the inmates inside.
Like Snake Pliskin in Escape from New York. Its pretty much that way now. The guy with the lamp looking for an honest man would have a rough time in New Orleans.
Had a 60' Impala ragtop with a stock 283. It was before stereo radio so I put in a reverb to get the "stereo" sound . Roomy back seat .
They did NOT patrol in those cars--they fled to Baton Rouge in them. The new acting superintendent of police is already defending them. Same **** different day.
Bush's fault....
They needed transportation to take their vacations in Las Vegas.
http://www.klfy.com/Global/story.asp?S=3954882
October 8, 2005
Mermentau Police Chief Arrested
Chief Jeremy LeBlanc
After Hurricane Katrina swept through New Orleans, looting became a huge problem.
We've now gotten word that officers in uniform were also helping themselves to the goods.
The Louisiana Attorney General's Office has confirmed that the chief of police in Mermentau is among those who are facing charges for looting.
Jeremy Joseph LeBlanc was in New Orleans in the wake of Katina and has now been arrested.
The attorney general's office is working the case.
We'll bring you more details as soon as they become available.
I look forward to the MSM covering this in detail. NOT.
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