And the Oscar goes to . . .
Posted on 12/10/2006 6:45:08 PM PST by LdSentinal
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Gov. Kathleen Blanco says state police and National Guard troops cannot stay in New Orleans "indefinitely" to help the city fight crime, but she has ordered them to stay in the city at least past the end of the year.
Her decision comes in response to a request by New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley to keep the reinforcements well into next year.
Blanco said no decision has been made how long the 60 state troopers and 300 Guard troops will be assigned to police and security duties in New Orleans.
"We can't do it indefinitely," she said. "If we tried to do this indefinitely, it would cost us an arm and a leg."
Blanco made her comments Saturday while speaking with reporters during the special legislative session.
The governor said she would not abandon the city, but stressed that she wants to see an "exit plan" plan from New Orleans officials for ending reliance on the state help.
The Legislature has already appropriated almost $16 million to post the state police and Guard in New Orleans since a surge of violent crime rocked the city in June.
Mayor Ray Nagin's spokeswoman, Ceeon Quiett, said Blanco "has to understand the devastation and the magnitude of what we're dealing with."
Blanco said she and her staff are talking with city officials about their needs and how long added police presence is needed, as well as how the city is fighting crime.
Recent figures show the New Orleans Police Department has about 1,425 officers, with about 100 of them on leave. Before Katrina, the department had 1,668 officers on its rolls. The department recently launched its first post-Katrina recruit class of 41 potential officers.
Nagin recently warned that with post-Katrina attrition, the number of police officers may drop to 1,000 or less. He said he would like to see the force level off at 1,600 officers, a level that will require training about 200 police cadets a year for the next three years.
Blanco said troopers who have been helping patrol New Orleans are needed for highway traffic enforcement and for crime-fighting in rural areas. The Guard has been rotating a command of 300 troops throughout the neighborhoods hardest hit by flooding after Katrina, usually areas with the fewest residents.
Blanco also pointed out that many of the Guard troops served in Iraq and then did hurricane duty in 2005 before being sent to New Orleans — some with virtually no time off.
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What about that one (elected)guy who was crying like a 5 year old, over something that turned out not to have happened? Wonder how's he handling the crisis??
If those people are going to duke it out let 'em go to it.
And the Oscar goes to . . .
She should just declare the the federal (US) Army is responsible and then cry to the press that everything is the fault of the White House. It worked last time.
Nobody recites the days of the week with more feeling, however.
he is likely a multi-millionaire now, from FEMA money.
"Have the New Orleans police force stopped looting yet?"
Have they assembled a commission to create a New Orleans Study report? I mean, if they need political cover to cut and run they should at least follow form...
Hell, set up roadblocks, make sure they have enough beer and ammo, and let it sort out naturally. If you don't like the winners, let things sort out again. Sooner or later, one way or another, things will get calm!
Boils don't heal,until you drain off the pus!
We need an exit strategy from New Orleans.
The Gaza Strip of Louissiana.
Like Gaza, filled with people who wont work and living off money from the US Government.
It's a quagmire. The US needs to withdraw immediately.
Ok, let us go over this again. The rat gov of LA just said she wants an exit strategy from NOLA?
Let me think that through again. The RAT gove of LA just said...oh, the heck with it. Pardon me while I laugh.
Yup! Instead of being responsible and embarrassed for what they've caused they whine like an industrial hoover sucking in cash. They don't have any respect but they have lots of taxpayer dollars which they continue to piss away.
EOR
With far fewer people living in New Orleans, why do they need such a large police force?
Quagmire!
You called?
An ungovernable hell-hole. Good place for al quaeda to set up shop.
Are you saying Louisiana is a failed state?
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