Metro police departments across the country are struggling with recruiting, and the New Orleans Police Department is no exception.
Attrition has slowly eaten away at the NOPD over the last handful of years.
"Looking at the NOPD force is closer to 800 officers than it is 900 officers," said New Orleans Metro Crime Commission president Rafael Goyeneche.
That is the smallest NOPD in recent history and significantly fewer cops than leaders say they need.
Goyeneche says NOPD has been able to accomplish a lot with that 800, and the drop in crime in New Orleans proves it. But he warns without newer cops joining, there will be fewer officers to replace the ones approaching retirement.
"We'll be approaching a cliff where officers vest in their pensions and they move on and we're going to have a big hole," he said.