Citizen Crime Watch Blog

NOPD solving more homicide cases
Determination trounces severe staff shortage
Sunday, June 29, 2008
By Brendan McCarthy
The Times-Picayune

Closing a case like this one would be a major win in a city where the sheer number of slayings overwhelms a thinly staffed NOPD homicide unit of just 16 detectives. Each detective in the homicide unit had already surpassed the nationally recommended annual caseload of six per detective — in less than half a year. If the killing holds steady, a near certainty, each detective will have a 2008 portfolio more than double that size.

“They are out there; they are relentless,” said Capt. Kevin Anderson, commander of the unit, of his group. “They beat the streets, turn every stone once, sometimes twice.”

Still, despite uncooperative witnesses and an overtaxed unit, NOPD Homicide has upped its clearance rate to its highest level in years. As of late May, the squad’s clearance rate sat at 64 percent, above the national average and significantly higher than the rates of recent years.

Detectives “clear” a case when they formally name a suspect and secure an arrest warrant. Although the statistic does not consider convictions, police officials say it provides a gauge for detectives’ performance. …

Since early last year, the homicide squad has supplemented its ranks with a rotation of five or six FBI agents, who assist local investigators in all aspects of their cases. The rare federal initiative took hold as the city’s escalating murder rate garnered national attention.

But that assistance ended days ago, leaving the office as short-staffed as ever.

Defillo, boss of the investigative bureau, said the entire police force needs more people, more money. Homicide is no different. Once more recruits are hired, the homicide unit will be expanded, he said.

One key addition, Defillo said, is a recently created two-person “homicide intelligence unit” within the division, Defillo said. It tracks murder suspects, learns about their motives and anticipates retaliatory killings.

— Cases screened faster —

For the most part, the homicide unit works alone, sequestered from the day-in and day-out traffic stops, minor arrests and other tasks of a typical patrol officer. Several NOPD divisions, such as juvenile, intelligence and district detective units, lend support, yet homicide’s closest allies may be the prosecutors in the district attorney’s office.

Homicide department heads, along with Bobby Freeman, head of the district attorney’s Violent Offender Unit, said that better communication and an expedited screening process have soothed a sometimes-testy relationship between the agencies. In addition to the increased clearance rate, the homicide unit is bringing more cases to the district attorney’s office for prosecution.

More than 57 cases were presented to the Violent Offender Unit in the first four months of 2008 — compared with 47 cases in all of 2007. Instead of waiting until late in the screening process, as the legal deadline to charge defendants looms, the prosecutors are working more with the detectives on the front end of the investigation, Freeman said. …

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NO mayor, police to discuss summer camp program
by The Times-Picayune
Thursday June 26, 2008, 9:00 AM

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent Warren Riley will hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m. today to discuss the “Cops for Kids” summer program, a character development effort serving more than 400 children.

The event will take place at the New Orleans Recreation Department’s St. Bernard Center. Now in its 12th year, the summer program offers athletics, academics and socialization training, with participation from police officers, psychologists and other mentors. The camp began earlier this month and ends July 25.

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Camera installer has no La. license
N.O. council looks at surveillance contract
Thursday, June 26, 2008
By David Hammer

After months of fruitless attempts to get public documents on New Orleans’ troubled crime camera program, a City Council member has discovered that the Nagin administration gave a small contract to a company — too small to need a Louisiana contractor’s license — then exponentially increased the company’s take to more than $1 million.

Councilwoman Stacy Head led the inquiry into the city’s contract with LSI Research of Huntsville, Ala. She got confirmation Wednesday from city legal and contract procurement staff that the company was hired to install just eight cameras, even though the city knew at the time it needed to install at least 200 of the devices.

The administration officials also confirmed what Head found Tuesday night while reviewing documents: LSI falsely claimed it had a Louisiana contractor’s license when it bid for the work. Head said LSI used what she called a “fraudulent” contractor’s license number in an initial bid to install and operate the cameras.

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NOPD to target street-level dealers
Major-case unit’s officers redeployed
Thursday, June 26, 2008
By Laura Maggi

Many officers working drug cases as part of the New Orleans Police Department’s major-case narcotics unit, as well as some working on federal task forces, this week were moved to smaller narcotics task forces operating out of six district offices around the city.

The move is part of a plan to reshape officer deployment that was developed by Deputy Chief Kirk Bouyelas, who became head of the NOPD’s operations bureau earlier this month after a year and a half as commander of the department’s Uptown-based 2nd District.

With a smaller department than before Hurricane Katrina, officers need to focus on street-level deals rather than complex and time-consuming investigations of high-volume drug dealers, Bouyelas said. Bouyelas, who in his new position directs the strategic direction of the department, said his focus will be to help district commanders and their officers reduce crime in their areas. Along with the shifting of narcotics officers, Bouyelas said he expects to roll out more initiatives in the next few months.

“I do not think these guys can work harder. But they can work more efficiently,” said Bouyelas, who joined the force in 1983 and previously served under two operations chiefs. “This is all about more boots on the streets and getting creative in ways to use officers.” …

While this kind of enforcement has been criticized in the past as targeting low-level offenders, who even if convicted in court won’t end up with substantial prison sentences, Bouyelas said that thoughtful street policing can lead to bigger busts.

The strategy succeeded in the 2nd District last year, where a team created by Bouyelas developed solid confidential informants who made “controlled buys” from dealers within drug houses, he said. Police were eventually able to come back with search warrants and arrest multiple people, helping clean up crime hot spots that developed after the storm, he said.

The major case narcotics division, aimed at tackling midlevel and “kingpin” drug dealers, will still operate, but with fewer officers. At some point, when recruitment returns the NOPD to its full strength of about 1,700 officers, the major-case narcotics team will be beefed up again, Bouyelas said.

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Off-duty escort work of St. Bernard, NOPD officers subject of probe
by Laura Maggi and Bob Warren, The Times-Picayune
Tuesday June 24, 2008, 9:45 PM

Officers within the New Orleans Police Department and St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office traffic divisions are the subjects of a federal investigation into required off-duty police escorts of oversized vehicles traveling within their parishes.

Bob Young, the head of the NOPD’s public information office, said Superintendent Warren Riley is “aware of the investigation and has been cooperating with the federal government in their investigation.”

Young said he understood that “a couple” of NOPD officers have received subpoenas to appear before a federal grand jury in New Orleans.

The federal probe stems from a complaint filed with the inspector general’s office of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security about police escorts required for FEMA trailers being removed from the two parishes, said St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Jack Stephens.

“We are working with them to determine if there are any irregularities with those escorts,” Stephens said.

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten declined to comment about any federal investigation or grand jury probe.

In both St. Bernard and Orleans parishes, police escorts are required by local rules that mandate that the drivers of vehicles with oversized loads pay for the police to direct them through the parish.

Off-duty officers in both St. Bernard and Orleans parishes take their payment for the escort work directly from the driver, often in cash, said people who have used the service. Both departments require the escorts not only on local roads, but also on the federal highway, according to several representatives of manufactured-housing companies.

Stephens said his officers receive $100 for their work, which can be paid by either cash or check. NOPD officers also receive $100, according to people who have made the payments. …

Sgt. Don Kelly, a spokesman for the Baton Rouge Police Department, said escorts are not required on either Interstate 10 or Interstate 12 as they pass through that city. But if an oversized vehicle gets off the highway, it is required to be escorted by a motorcycle detail of at least one off-duty officer, he said. Escorts in Baton Rouge cost $200 regardless of how many officers are needed.

When companies apply to the state DOTD for a permit to move an oversized load, the agency tells drivers that they will likely need a police escort on local roads in New Orleans, St. Bernard Parish, Jefferson Parish, Baton Rouge and Shreveport, said Dustin Annison, a spokesman for the agency.

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You don’t lose gun rights in traffic stop
By Gordon Hutchinson

“The female officer got out and walked up to my car, and I told her, ‘I’m sorry. I know better. I simply wasn’t paying attention when I made that left turn.’

“When she asked for my driver’s license, insurance and registration, I told her there was a gun in the glove box, just to warn her. She walked around to the other side of the car, opened the door, opened the glove box and took the gun out. It was a little .25 automatic. It wasn’t even loaded.

“She proceeded to write me the ticket. When she gave me the ticket, she made some sort of quick spiel about where I could come to get the gun back if I brought a receipt for it. I didn’t follow what she was telling me, but she kept the gun.

“When I asked her if she was going to give me a receipt, she told me: ‘The way I look at it, I didn’t know you had it, and you don’t know I’ve got it.’ She left with the gun.”

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Judge Seeber Bridge repairs under way
by John McCusker, The Times-Picayune
Saturday June 21, 2008, 1:45 PM

Workers install a new motor which will power a metal traffic barrier on the Judge Seeber Bridge over the Industrial Canal in the ninth ward. The long-broken barriers contributed to the accident in which a veteran NOPD officer plunged to his death. The repairs will take a couple of days.

Related:

Police, family pay respects to officer
Felix lauded for bravery, dedication
Thursday, May 29, 2008
By Laura Maggi, The Times-Picayune

At an emotional funeral service, members of the New Orleans Police Department on Wednesday remembered Detective Tommie Felix as a devoted police officer who always took it upon himself to go after the bad guys, even if it meant risking his life.

Detective Gabriel Favaroth, a longtime friend who attended the NOPD police academy with Felix, called him a beloved prankster, but one who could balance levity with serious police business.

“If we had one (Tommie) in each district, the world would be a better place,” said Favaroth, who choked up during his eulogy, remembering his friend and former partner.

Felix, who joined the department in 1991, died early in the morning on May 20 when his car plummeted into the Industrial Canal because of a series of mechanical and operational breakdowns at the Claiborne Avenue drawbridge.

His death marks the fourth death in the past seven months within NOPD ranks. Officer Nicola Cotton was killed in late January after a confrontation with a man in a parking lot. Sgt. Thelonious Dukes died a month after he was shot by a robber during what police have described as a home invasion. Rookie officer Matthew Schmit was killed in a car accident in December, just a few days after graduating from the police academy.

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Governor extends Guard’s N.O. stay
Soldiers to patrol areas through end of the year
Friday, June 20, 2008
By Laura Maggi
The Times-Picayune

National Guard troops will remain in New Orleans until the end of the year to help police officers patrol the less populated areas of the city, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Thursday.

“We know part of encouraging people to come back and rebuild their homes and businesses is having confidence in the security,” Jindal said a news conference with NOPD Superintendent Warren Riley and Mayor Ray Nagin.

Currently 360 Louisiana Guard soldiers patrol New Orleans. Gov. Kathleen Blanco first sent the troops in the summer of 2006 after a spate of murders and an uptick in other crime after Hurricane Katrina. The soldiers have been deployed in the New Orleans Police Department’s 3rd, 5th and 7th Districts, which include most of the flooded areas of the city, from Lakeview to eastern New Orleans to the 9th Ward.

The soldiers were set to leave next month, until Jindal decided to extend their tour at the request of Riley and Nagin. Jindal granted an extension after taking office in January, as Blanco had repeatedly done when she was governor.

The state spends about $1 million each month to keep the complement of Guard soldiers in New Orleans.

Jindal emphasized that the number of soldiers will be reduced in the coming months. About 320 soldiers will be kept through July and August, the hottest summer months when crime typically spikes in New Orleans. Some troops will be pulled out of the city in September, when 260 soldiers will remain, said Maj. Gen. Bennett Landreneau, the head of the Louisiana Guard. The troop strength will decrease again in November to 216 soldiers, who will continue to patrol until Dec. 31, he said.

The Police Department, meanwhile, has launched a $1 million campaign to recruit more officers. The money for that campaign also came from the state, as well as some private money.

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FBI to end stint in homicide unit
N.O. squad got help from federal agents
Saturday, June 07, 2008
By Brendan McCarthy

The FBI will be ending its one-of-a-kind homicide initiative with the New Orleans Police Department later this month, withdrawing the agents that supplemented the NOPD’s taxed murder squad.

The move draws to a close the 17-month initiative, which put FBI agents from across the country into the NOPD’s homicide unit for several months at a time. The agents assisted local detectives from crime scene to clearance, knocking on doors and helping out in many other facets of the investigations. A group of five detectives was placed in the unit for up to three-month rotations. …

NOPD Capt. Kevin Anderson, commander of the homicide unit, said the departure will mean fewer bodies in the office but said it will not affect the squad’s output.

“We do feel confidently that it will not impact the service and job performance of the homicide division,” Anderson said. “It will not impact our ability to put murderers in jail.”

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N.O. cop won’t see fleeing charge
He still must face DWI, speeding case
Saturday, June 07, 2008
By Laura Maggi

The Orleans Parish district attorney’s office this week decided against prosecuting an off-duty New Orleans Police Department officer for fleeing from a Crescent City Connection squad car, although Officer Charles Richard still faces myriad charges in traffic court, including reckless driving and driving while intoxicated. …

Richard is scheduled to go to trial June 25 in New Orleans traffic court on charges of driving while intoxicated and recklessly operating a vehicle, as well as speeding and running a red light, said Louis Ivon, the court’s administrator.

Richard was heading across the Crescent City Connection at around 1:37 a.m. on March 3 when Sgt. David Kramer with the CCC Police Department clocked his Dodge Charger going 83 mph in a 50 mph speed zone. Kramer followed the car in his cruiser, with his lights on, but Richard didn’t stop for 2.9 miles, according to a brief police report filed at Criminal District Court.

Kramer followed the car off the Gen. DeGaulle Drive exit and continued as the driver turned right onto L.B. Landry Ave. Richard kept going, according to the report, ending up on Shirley Drive, where he failed to stop for a red light at the Gen. Meyer Avenue intersection.

Richard then crashed into the Naval Support Activity building on Gen. Meyer and was ejected from the car, the report said. At that point, Kramer realized the driver was an off-duty New Orleans police officer, the report said.

An EMS unit took Richard to University Hospital, where a blood sample was taken. The report stated that Dr. Frank Minyard, the Orleans Parish coroner, examined the laboratory report from Richard’s blood and found the ethanol level was high enough to “significantly impair Richard’s judgment.”

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