News (Media Awareness Project) - US LA: Editorial: Working Day And Night |
| Title: | US LA: Editorial: Working Day And Night |
| Published On: | 2004-03-31 |
| Source: | Times-Picayune, The (LA) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-08-22 15:03:25 |
WORKING DAY AND NIGHT
The New Orleans Police Department usually devotes the bulk of its Carnival
overtime hours to patrolling crowds along parade routes and keeping
revelers in the French Quarter in line -- and most units continued to do so
this year.
But in an innovative departure from that long-term practice, narcotics
Capt. Tim Bayard used his unit's extra hours in some of the city's most
violent neighborhoods. In the past, the narcotics unit spent its overtime
hours in the French Quarter chasing individual users and their suppliers.
But for a three-week period culminating on Fat Tuesday, 30 narcotics
officers spent 18 to 22 hours a day working the city's crime hot spots. The
results were dramatic. Officers seized 49 guns, 915 grams of crack cocaine,
216 grams of powdered cocaine, 331/2 pounds of marijuana and smaller
amounts of heroin, crystal methamphetamine, methadone and Ecstasy.
Most significantly, they made 272 arrests, most of them on drug or
weapons-related charges, and confiscated $34,525 they believed was
associated with the drug trade.
Violent crime remains a source of worry for many residents of New Orleans.
So, as encouraging as it is to hear that the plain-clothes squads didn't
have a single murder take place on their turf during the 22-day blitz, it's
disappointing to know that such an offensive isn't still in effect. But it
takes extra money to do that. In this case, the department funded its
operation with overtime pay and federal grant money.
At least now, though, police officials know what works. Capt. Bayard says
he hopes to shift the unit's focus to those violent areas full time. At the
same time, the department should be able to use its recent successes to
apply for grants to fund additional crackdowns.
No one stands to gain more from reduction of violent crime than those who
live in violent neighborhoods, but the overall feeling of safety that
results is a benefit to all residents -- and to our visitors, too. So let's
hope the department can find a way to conduct such initiatives more often
than once a year.
The New Orleans Police Department usually devotes the bulk of its Carnival
overtime hours to patrolling crowds along parade routes and keeping
revelers in the French Quarter in line -- and most units continued to do so
this year.
But in an innovative departure from that long-term practice, narcotics
Capt. Tim Bayard used his unit's extra hours in some of the city's most
violent neighborhoods. In the past, the narcotics unit spent its overtime
hours in the French Quarter chasing individual users and their suppliers.
But for a three-week period culminating on Fat Tuesday, 30 narcotics
officers spent 18 to 22 hours a day working the city's crime hot spots. The
results were dramatic. Officers seized 49 guns, 915 grams of crack cocaine,
216 grams of powdered cocaine, 331/2 pounds of marijuana and smaller
amounts of heroin, crystal methamphetamine, methadone and Ecstasy.
Most significantly, they made 272 arrests, most of them on drug or
weapons-related charges, and confiscated $34,525 they believed was
associated with the drug trade.
Violent crime remains a source of worry for many residents of New Orleans.
So, as encouraging as it is to hear that the plain-clothes squads didn't
have a single murder take place on their turf during the 22-day blitz, it's
disappointing to know that such an offensive isn't still in effect. But it
takes extra money to do that. In this case, the department funded its
operation with overtime pay and federal grant money.
At least now, though, police officials know what works. Capt. Bayard says
he hopes to shift the unit's focus to those violent areas full time. At the
same time, the department should be able to use its recent successes to
apply for grants to fund additional crackdowns.
No one stands to gain more from reduction of violent crime than those who
live in violent neighborhoods, but the overall feeling of safety that
results is a benefit to all residents -- and to our visitors, too. So let's
hope the department can find a way to conduct such initiatives more often
than once a year.
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