Police, Police, everywhere, and the criminals still go free
Congrats to blogger Mr. Clio for making the Times-Picayune with his tongue-in-cheek assessment of arming our toddlers in New Orleans. And this leads me to think more about crime in everday life in the city.
Crime is prevalent in New Orleans. Well, that is never a top news story anymore. It has always been that way, at least over the last 25 years. Every now and then we get a spurt of shootings in a few-hour period which prompts the reporters to take note. But for the most part, crime in New Orleans is an ever-present ordeal citizens have learned to cope with.
Why is there so much crime in New Orleans? There shouldn't be, for one very big reason. There are just so many federal, state, and local departments who are entrusted to protect and serve the citizens of New Orleans. Think of how many there are. I am asking readers here to submit any entries I may miss. But check this out: In New Orleans alone there are over 15 entities which are ARMED and charged with protecting some part or all of the community.
New Orleans Police Department
Orleans Parish Sheriff's Department (Criminal)
Orleans Parish Sheriff's Department (Civil)
Louisiana State Police
Orleans Parish Levee Board Police
Crescent City Connection Police
Harbor Police
City Park Police
Tulane University Medical Center Police
Louisiana State University Medical Center Police
Tulane University Police
FBI
ATF
Louisiana National Guard (especially post-Katrina)
U.S. Army (post-Katrina)
There are more, I am sure. All of these "jurisdictions" charged with "protecting and serving" some or all of us. Most, especially the local entities, are useless wastes of taxpayer money. The NOPD is only good for crowd control during Mardi Gras. The criminal Sheriff's office couldn't find its way along any street beyond Tulane Avenue, where the courthouse is. The State Police are a bunch of scared white boys from Walker and Denham Springs, and Nachitoches who can't bring themselves to patrol unless there are 4 of them together.
If all of these departments together can't keep the crime rate down, what recourse do we have to fight? Maybe Mr. Clio is right; arm the children. Seems everyone else is armed and dangerous. Dangerous to everyone else except the criminals.
rizzo
I am pretty sure the City Park police are no more. Virtually all staff of the park were eliminated.
I'm not sure that's a fair characterization of the SP.
And I can't figure out why LSU and Tulane both have securty forces at the mostly common downtown campus.
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I've dealt with the SP on may levels. Believe me, I was being benevolent.
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You forgot Customs Agents, Immigration (is that Homeland Security now?), Wildlife and Fisheries, and the US Park Service. Damn this is a long list. The best part is the guys who get caught and then get off because there are no witnesses.
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