On Monday, New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick presented data showing that murders are down 37 percent and non-fatal shootings are down 43 percent through the end of November.
But a former NOPD chief says that's not enough to make people in the city feel safe.
"You just gotta be careful that you don't try to convince people that the numbers should make them feel safer if they don't feel safer," former NOPD superintendent Ronal Serpas said, noting that perception is indeed reality when it comes to crime in New Orleans. "People know crime from the friends, family, and neighbors."
Serpas credits current NOPD Chief Anne Kirkpatrick and the department for working to bring the city's crime rate down, but he told WWL's Tommy Tucker that lower crime rates don't matter if people in the Crescent City are afraid.
"Reflect for a moment that crime has gone down for the bigger picture ideas that people want to see, but never forget, it's what your mom and them told you. It's what your neighbors told you. It's what your friends told you about how you perceive crime in your city," Serpas said. "You can rely on data, and I did and so do many other chiefs, but that just gives you context. What you gotta remember is that people derive crime information from their family, friends, and neighbors."
Serpas says the NOPD not only needs to fight crime but also allay the concerns and fears residents have about violent crime.
"Sometimes when you talk about data, sometime it hits like a thud when people say, 'I'm glad to know that crime is down in New Orleans,' and it is, by the way, and, 'I'm glad to know that shootings are down in New Orleans.' We want to celebrate that, but you can't use that only explanation of these events."
