Yesterday, WWL reported that New Orleans recorded its lowest half-year homicide rate since 1970.
Relatedly, satisfaction with the NOPD has been on the rise. A recent survey from the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission showed that, compared to last year, the approval rating of the NOPD jumped seven points, from 40% to 47%.
Chief Kirkpatrick joined the Newell Normand show to explain her take on the NOPD's successes. She also addresses the NOPD's need to better address shoplifting and why she thinks the NOPD can help grow the city's economy and bring back ex-New Orleanians.
Positive trends in NOPD approval rating, residential safety
In response to the upswing in approval ratings, Kirkpatrick says, “It certainly is a reflection on every man and woman who works in this agency. They're getting to see some of the fruit of truly hard work, not only in their practices, but in how they police, not just that they police, and I'm just really proud of them.”
The MCC report also shows that New Orleanians claim a stronger sense of safety. The annual report reveals that 84% of New Orleans residents feel safe in their neighborhoods, with 54% reporting they feel safe in their city as a whole.
“Of all of the statistics that were shared with us," Kirkpatrick says, "That to me was the most important; it's the most telling.”
Kirkpatrick explains that although her strategy upon stepping into leadership began with harder crackdowns on ‘impact players,' they now look to the next steps to reduce recidivism.
“We are moving to a new stage of our strategy to try to not only interrupt (crime), but to provide services to these people that would break the cycle of their decision for violence...So holistically approaching that."
Safety as driver for economic development and entrepreneurship
Kirkpatrick explains her hope to use this safety, not just to maintain safety for those currently living in New Orleans, but as a selling point to bring businesses and people back.
“New Orleans really has to rely on its tourism industry," Kirkpatrick says. "But I think one of our goals and one of my visions and missions here at NOPD is to turn the city around to such a degree that we become known as one of the safer major cities in the country. And that will drive outside industries to come back here... I see New Orleans as a developer's dreamland. There's so much opportunity here for entrepreneurs and major industry.”
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Kirkpatrick also explains her desire to use the city's reputation for strong security to bring back those who may have left the city but long to return.
“Take all those people who left New Orleans after Katrina, 100,000, 150,000, to drive that population to come back. A lot of people want to return to their homeland, their home base," Kirkpatrick explains. "New Orleans is unique. And I know that the people who have left New Orleans would probably love to come back. And so I think our police department plays a great role in establishing that kind of safety so that people can come home.”
The need to address shoplifting
The NOPD chief also explains that, despite success, there’s still work to be done. She cites shoplifting and theft as one of the main concerns. The MCC's annual citizen satisfaction survey reveals the two lowest rated NOPD tasks to be responses to burglaries and carjackings, with 43% and 50% of respondents rating the NOPD as “Poor.”
“The biggest (negative) trend is shoplifting," explains Kirkpatrick. "That doesn't involve the loss of life… but it's still injurious to our community. Business owners may have to close their stores if shoplifting is to such a degree that they lose their ability to maintain the business."
“We're working on it,” Kirkpatrick continues. “Actually, we have decreased the percentage, although it's still going up. It's not going up at the same rate (as it used to be) because we're not turning a blind eye to it either.”
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