Proponents of a joint anti-violent crime venture between State Police and New Orleans Police are touting the final results from the three-month-long program. Operation “Golden Eagle” ran through the summer months and featured a targeted crackdown on certain designated violent crime hotspots.
Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche told WWL’s Newell Normand that reports of violent crime were down about 40 percent from July through the end of August.
“Before the operation started they (NOPD) were averaging about 84 violent crime reports a week and at the conclusion of the operation it had fallen to 50 a week,” said Goyeneche.
The program also resulted in the seizure of 76 guns and information leading to federal indictments.
Goyeneche said the addition of State Police resources to the NOPD allowed both organizations to be more proactive in enforcement.
“We just can’t do this for a couple of months out of the year when State Police commit resources,” said Goyeneche. “We need to do that the other nine months out of the year to curb and mitigate our violent crime problem.”
