A new survey says New Orleans residents are much more satisfied with the New Orleans Police Department's performance than they've been in quite some time.
According to the New Orleans Crime Coalition's annual survey, 55 percent of residents say the NOPD is doing a good job. That's an increase from a low of 33 percent in 2022.
The coalition's past chair, Greg Rusovich, says residents from all walks of life share that sentiment.
"Black respondents, white respondents, males, (and) females all gave approval," Rusovich said to WWL's Newell Normand. "Two-thirds of the public responding said they believe the city is safe. That's a 12-point improvement. And then 80 percent feel safer in their own neighborhood."
Rusovich says the perception that the NOPD is making New Orleans safer could very well be a new reality.
"It also shows that there is an upbeat feel throughout the city right now which is permeating," Rusovich said. "There's a feel good: people feel like we're moving in the right direction."
Rusovich says that's a testament to the work of NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick and the entire New Orleans Police Department.
"I think people have seen the drastic improvement over the last three to four years, and they're giving credit for that improvement," Rusovich said.
However, Rusovich noted that respondents to the survey want the NOPD to do more to keep the city and its people safe.
"What really screams out at the page is two things, technology and manpower. The public clearly wants to see more robust use of all technologies that are available, including facial recognition, which there's broad support for," Rusovich said, adding that a vast majority of the New Orleans residents want the NOPD to do a better job of recruiting new officers to the force to help reduce response times.
Superintendent Kirkpatrick said that she's heartened by the survey's results.
“We’re encouraged by recent survey results showing New Orleanians reporting they feel safer and more satisfied with policing in their neighborhoods," Kirkpatrick said in a statement. "Trust is built through consistency, accountability, and officers showing up for the community every day. Our focus remains on being brilliant in the basics and continuing to earn public confidence through our actions.”