As New Orleans's crime wave continues to swell, the city's former police superintendent is taking Mayor LaToya Cantrell to task.
Ronal Serpas says Mayor Cantrell must do more to support the NOPD.
"What would have Mayor (Marc) Morial have been doing right now?," Serpas asked WWL's Newell Normand while discussing former chief executives for whom he worked. "(Former Nashville Mayor Bill) Purcell would have been everywhere saying, 'I'm with my police department, but you need to hear from me, your mayor. This sh**'s gonna stop.'"
Serpas says unlike other mayors he worked for, Cantrell has refused to be vocal and visible in supporting the NOPD.
"Mayor Morial . . . and, nine out of 10 things, Mitch Landrieu, they fought publicly every single today to make our community safe," Serpas said. "The mayor was as vocal and as visible as the police chief in our form of government, and, candidly, this mayor has done none of that."
Serpas says that lack of visibility is causing people to question the ability of the NOPD and to become frustrated with city leadership.
"So it's no surprise to me that people are confused about what the state of affairs in the city as it relates to crime," Serpas said. "They're not complaining about the individual officers who are bravely fighting this fight with one hand tied behind their back, one leg missing, and being told that there's no help on the horizon."
Serpas compared the current NOPD situation and how Cantrell is handling it to the sinking of the Titanic.
"It occurred to me that as we think about today's political leadership in New Orleans, it reminds me much of the captain of the Titanic. The difference is the captain of the Titanic knew moving the deck chairs around was not going to stop the sinking ship."
Serpas says Cantrell is not solely to blame. According to Serpas, some blame lies with city leaders who, he says, began pulling funding from the NOPD as early as 2012. He says for as rough as things are now for Cantrell and the NOPD, they can get out of their rut.
"None of this is something that can't be overcome," Serpas said.
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