New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams and New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson engaged in verbal sparring ahead of a pair of New Orleans City Council meetings on rampant crime.
Williams said the police have not been bringing him strong enough evidence to prosecute suspects.
"What we need is for the chief to understand that their role in the criminal legal system does not end in simply arrest," said Williams. "You gotta have evidence in court."
Chief Ferguson this afternoon released his response.
"The remarks made by the Orleans Parish District Attorney are unfortunate," Ferguson said in a news release from NOPD.
"What is rhetoric to him is reality from a law enforcement perspective.
"There are deficiencies in the criminal justice system and we need to face that and figure out what we need to do to address those issues collectively. "
Chief Ferguson will speak to the New Orleans City Council at their meeting this Thursday. The D.A. is set to address the council the following Monday.