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Blanco: troopers, Guard cannot patrol New Orleans streets 'indefinitely'
KATC.com ^ | 12/10/06

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.

___


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: blanco; gangs; halpusjoncarry; louisiana; nagin; neworleans; welfare
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Have the New Orleans police force stopped looting yet?
1 posted on 12/10/2006 6:45:13 PM PST by LdSentinal
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To: LdSentinal

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??


2 posted on 12/10/2006 6:47:36 PM PST by The Worthless Miracle (I think Jamie Dupree is annoying.)
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To: LdSentinal
Hey, where's her timetable for withdrawing the forces from NO?

If those people are going to duke it out let 'em go to it.

3 posted on 12/10/2006 6:49:00 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: The Worthless Miracle

And the Oscar goes to . . .

4 posted on 12/10/2006 6:53:29 PM PST by LdSentinal
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To: muawiyah

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.


5 posted on 12/10/2006 6:55:21 PM PST by Old North State
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To: LdSentinal

Nobody recites the days of the week with more feeling, however.


6 posted on 12/10/2006 6:55:27 PM PST by JennysCool (This is the United, not Diverse, States of America.)
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To: The Worthless Miracle

he is likely a multi-millionaire now, from FEMA money.


7 posted on 12/10/2006 6:56:03 PM PST by oceanview
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To: LdSentinal

"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...


8 posted on 12/10/2006 6:59:00 PM PST by MikeyGo (Pray for our warriors. And pray their political enemies will not have the power to stop them.)
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To: LdSentinal
Blanco also pointed out that many of the Guard troops served in Iraq.

That's Jon Carry-speak for "They're used to blowing civilians away".
9 posted on 12/10/2006 6:59:10 PM PST by Thrownatbirth (.....when the sidewalks are safe for the little guy.)
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To: LdSentinal

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!


10 posted on 12/10/2006 7:00:31 PM PST by SWAMPSNIPER (BUAIDH NO BAS)
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To: LdSentinal

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.


11 posted on 12/10/2006 7:00:48 PM PST by sgtbono2002 (The fourth estate is a fifth column.)
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To: LdSentinal

It's a quagmire. The US needs to withdraw immediately.


12 posted on 12/10/2006 7:02:38 PM PST by Paladin2 (Islam is the religion of violins, NOT peas.)
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To: LdSentinal; leda
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.

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.

13 posted on 12/10/2006 7:03:57 PM PST by patton (Sanctimony frequently reaps its own reward.)
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To: oceanview

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


14 posted on 12/10/2006 7:18:28 PM PST by mcshot ("If it ain't broke it doesn't have enough features." paraphrased anon.)
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To: LdSentinal

With far fewer people living in New Orleans, why do they need such a large police force?


15 posted on 12/10/2006 7:20:06 PM PST by wintertime (Good ideas win! Why? Because people are not stupid)
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To: LdSentinal

Quagmire!


16 posted on 12/10/2006 7:23:45 PM PST by Rb ver. 2.0
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To: Rb ver. 2.0
Quagmire!

You called?

17 posted on 12/10/2006 7:26:30 PM PST by Clemenza
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To: LdSentinal


18 posted on 12/10/2006 7:39:27 PM PST by bannie
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To: LdSentinal

An ungovernable hell-hole. Good place for al quaeda to set up shop.


19 posted on 12/10/2006 7:46:46 PM PST by gotribe (There's still time to begin a war in Iraq.)
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To: gotribe

Are you saying Louisiana is a failed state?


20 posted on 12/10/2006 7:51:08 PM PST by AZLiberty (Wanting to die for your beliefs? Good, because we're willing to kill for ours.)
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