New Orleans Police Chief Shaun Ferguson admits his department is struggling to keep police officers on the street and recruit new officers to replace the ones leaving the force.
“We are facing some challenges with retention as well as recruitment,” Chief Ferguson tells WWL’s Newell Normand.
However, he says new deployment tactics and special operations seem to be helping to reduce violent crime in the city.
“In June we had 16 homicides compared to 18 (in June of last) year, so that is somewhat of a sign of a difference maker,” Ferguson tells Normand.
The latest crime statistics show the surge of violent crime in New Orleans may be slowing.
“State and federal partners have stepped up, we are working Operation Golden Eagle right now,” said Ferguson.
He also says juvenile court judges are stepping up by cooperating more with police to end the revolving door of kids committing crimes then being released by the courts, only to commit crime again.
“Our juvenile judges have definitely worked with us with regards to being more attentive to these individuals as they are being arrested,” said Ferguson.
He said there is still a lot of work to do.