ACLU of Louisiana Statement on Court’s Decision to End NOPD Consent Decree

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact: Jesse Vad, [email protected]

We at the ACLU of Louisiana are deeply troubled by the court’s decision to end the federal consent decree with the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD). This move is not only a stark reversal of the city’s recent commitment to a two-year sustainment period, agreed upon by both city officials and the courts just months ago but also part of a troubling national trend, as the current administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) signals its intent to roll back police oversight and dismantle consent decrees nationwide. We are also disappointed to see such a decision as the current city’s administration is on its way out, with no opportunity for incoming elected officials to weigh in on this issue.

This pivot to seek to abandon court-ordered oversight is not only disingenuous but does a disservice to the public trust. The original sustainment period recognized that NOPD still faces ongoing challenges that require vigilant oversight, including:

• 56 incidents of use-of-force involving 61 people since the sustainment period began;
• 23 incidents stemming from resistance to lawful detention, arrest, or mental health interventions;
• And in more than half of these cases, officers drew their weapons—a total of 52 officers exhibiting firearms.

Furthermore, the general public in New Orleans have been excluded from these processes as the City has largely kept the community in the dark about its decision making process and attempt to exit the consent decree.

We urge the DOJ and City of New Orleans to take into strong consideration the first-hand accounts of the community. For the people of New Orleans, federal oversight is imperative for ensuring accountability, safeguarding vulnerable populations and fostering equitable treatment within the NOPD.