The people who helped bring in the current criminal justice consultants to assist NOPD's crime fighting strategy are calling for the mayor to use those resources to help her find a new police chief.
Mayor Cantrell highlighted her cooperation with business leaders on working on crime solutions.
"We've also worked with John Casbon, who's with us -- hi, John -- and members of the business community to bring on and bring in consultants like John Linder," said Cantrell.
GNO Inc president Michael Hecht, part of the NOLA Coalition that worked with the mayor in bringing in Linder, says he would be an excellent place to start in helping find a new chief.
"This is his second time with the city," Hecht points out. "He was first back with Mayor Morial and so he has experience."
Hecht says this is an inflection point for the NOPD and the city. He says if the public doesn't have confidence that whoever gets selected isn't the absolute best person in the nation for the job, then the community support that has helped the NOPD these past months could evaporate. Hecht says even if the best person for the job is already in the NOPD, the public has to be absolutely sure of it.
"This is just about getting the process right," he said.
