The National Guard is ending its latest deployment in New Orleans after about eight months of supporting local and state law enforcement.
But while the Guard may be leaving, the fight against crime is far from over.
Rafael Goyeneche, president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, says National Guard members have played an important support role, particularly in the French Quarter.
“They do not make arrests, but they allow the people that do make arrests to be more impactful,” Goyeneche said.
Guardsmen have helped with foot patrols along the Canal Street corridor and staffed barricades, freeing up NOPD and State Police officers to respond to calls, conduct investigations and make arrests.
Goyeneche says the Guard's departure comes at a time when New Orleans is seeing significant progress in its fight against crime.
He points to the city's pretrial inmate population as one indicator.
During the COVID era, when crime was high, Goyeneche says the pretrial population was around 900 inmates. Today, he says, that number is about 1,450.
“That is an indication that the police department and the state police have been very impactful in apprehending, not just identifying and getting a warrant for, but actually arresting the violent and repeat offenders,” he said.
Goyeneche says those arrests, along with stronger investigations and prosecutions, are contributing to the city's declining crime rates.
But he is concerned the city could eventually hit a plateau.
His recommendation: invest in technology that can give law enforcement a force multiplier.
Goyeneche says drones that respond to 911 calls could be a game changer. He points to Jefferson Parish, where he says drones have helped cut response times from about five minutes to 90 seconds or less.
The drones can provide officers with a live view of a scene before they arrive and, in some cases, help track suspects leaving a crime scene.
“Response times matter,” Goyeneche said. “Drones can do that and you don't have to pay overtime to drones.”
He also says license plate reader cameras, including Flock cameras, are an important investigative tool for identifying vehicles connected to criminal activity.
Goyeneche says the National Guard has become a valuable partner in New Orleans and will likely return for major events and the holiday season.
But for the city's long-term crime strategy, he says technology and continued investment in law enforcement will be critical to keeping the progress going.
