Posted on 09/29/2005 2:45:17 AM PDT by abb
Louisiana Attorney General Charles Foti's office confirmed Wednesday that it is investigating the alleged looting of a New Orleans car dealership by city police officers.
More than 200 vehicles were taken from the Sewell Cadillac Chevrolet dealership in the Central Business District, and in the most chaotic hours after Hurricane Katrina, some New Orleans Police Department officers reportedly pulled up outside the mobile command center at Harrah's casino in bright, shiny Cadillac SUVs.
The cars allegedly still had "2004" stickers in their windshields and "Sewell" medallions on the back. The fancy rides appeared at a time when a desperate force, having already lost scores of its marked units to floodwaters, was siphoning gas from abandoned vehicles scattered throughout the city, and officers claimed to be operating under emergency orders that allowed them to commandeer necessary supplies. Now, however, that tactic has drawn the attention of investigators.
"Yes, we are investigating although there have been no arrests so far," said Kris Wartelle, a spokeswoman for Foti. "The investigation involves the activities at Sewell of both the New Orleans Police Department and another sort of city official whom I can't identify right now."
NOPD spokesman Capt. Marlon Defillo said the force "welcomes any review" of its actions. At no time did any officer remove a car from the Sewell lot or showroom, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
According to this article, about 200. Did Tony Snow use this article this morning? I wasn't able to listen to his show...
The article says it was a Cadillac CHEVROLET dealership. Odd they chose the Escalades over the Tahoes and Suburbans.
the cops that really exist, or the imaginary ones that are only on the payroll?
i too know the greatness of the very vast majority of our police and firemen. There has obviously been serious problems in the N.O. police force for years as well as the rest of local govt. there.
My problem is with the many cops that took part in the stealing, desertion of duty, etc, and add to that the lack of criticism from police organizations elsewhere?
"The attorney general's office contacted us, we did not contact them," he said. "Please make that clear because I have to live here, you know."
The fear of retribution is the reason only 25% of all murder cases are "solved" -- people are afraid to press charges and/or testify. Fear of violence and vandalism against them keeps honest victims silent. That is the "cost" for living in a city like New Orleans. Sad, but true. And, it is not something new.
"The attorney general's office contacted us, we did not contact them," he said. "Please make that clear because I have to live here, you know."
The fear of retribution is the reason only 25% of all murder cases are "solved" -- people are afraid to press charges and/or testify. Fear of violence and vandalism against them keeps honest victims silent. That is the "cost" for living in a city like New Orleans. Sad, but true. And, it is not something new.
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