The Cantrell Administration and the NOPD are expected to brief the public this week on Mardi Gras safety and security plans. Can Cantrell’s team keep things orderly and safe despite plummeting NOPD staffing? One expert is confident in their ability to do so.
“There is no police department on the planet that can handle crowd control equal to the New Orleans Police Department's Mardi Gras performance every year, year in year out,” said former NOPD Chief Ronal Serpas.
The Cantrell Administration is likely to face a lot of questions about the city’s ability to handle the event given the shrinking NOPD and rising violent crime. The former Chief said he’s confident though current Chief Shaun Ferguson’s team is up to the challenge, and will lay out a strong carnival management plan, that covers all the bases, and not just parades.
“You also have the calls for service responses that go on all day every day throughout the city, it’s a big challenge but our department is always up for it,” said Serpas.
Still, with 200 fewer officers total on the force now than he had to manage the parades routes alone in 2001, Serpas recommends people heading out for the party be vigilant.
“It’s always important for people to keep their wits about them in New Orleans, or Los Angeles, or New York, or Los Angeles,” said Serpas.
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