Making the city safe is Mitch Landrieu’s top priority.
Mitch’s plan combines aggressive crime fighting techniques, strong leadership from the Mayor’s office and a rededication to crime prevention through community outreach and policing.
Mitch will take the following actions to fight crime:
- Work shoulder-to-shoulder with tough, honest, and effective police chief
- Establish community policing in every neighborhood
- Modernize NOPD with best technology to target violent criminals
- Fight corruption, waste and abuse in department
- Bring criminal justice community together
- Continue reforms in juvenile justice system to prevent and decrease recidivism
- Focus on prevention by fixing NORD playgrounds and investing in afterschool programs
Work Shoulder-to-Shoulder with Tough, Honest and Effective Police Chief
Mitch will hire a new police chief following a national search in consult with law enforcement experts and community leaders. The new chief will meet the following criteria:
- Inspires confidence both in the community and the department
- Able to lead the department and work in partnership with criminal justice community
- Has successfully implemented community policing
- Understands how to use best law-enforcement technology
- Capable of managing a budget and deciding priorities
- Has strong experience managing crisis situations
- Known for taking action against misconduct and abuse
Establish Community policing in every neighborhood
Making our neighborhoods safe starts with putting more officers on the street, ensuring they are visible in neighborhoods and creating partnerships to proactively address public safety issues.
To implement community policing in every neighborhood, Mitch will:
- Partner with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to build a first-rate community policing program.
- Make sure we have an adequate force size and a decentralized patrol system to guarantee there are enough officers assigned to neighborhood patrols and crime hot spots.
- Promote participation and investment of time or resources from other government agencies, community leaders, businesses and nonprofits.
- Encourage neighborhood watch groups in every neighborhood and make sure there is a regular dialogue with their NOPD officers.
- Work with faith-based leaders, the business community, neighborhood schools, NORD officials and others to make sure police officers build relationships in the community, especially with young people.
- Incorporate community policing officers in evacuation and emergency planning training and preparation.
- Use community policing officers in evacuation and emergency planning training and preparation.
Modernize NOPD with best technology to target violent criminals
Misdemeanor arrests can no longer obstruct our criminal justice system at the expense of keeping violent criminals off the street. Mitch and his new chief will ensure that the NOPD has the resources and technology available based on practices used by successful crime-fighting units across the country. Mitch and his new chief will:
- Identify and focus on crime "hot spots."
- Coordinate investigations and push for aggressive sentencing of repeat violent offenders.
- Support efforts of the district attorney and juvenile judges to provide alternative sentencing and diversionary programs.
- Employ technology that is proven to maximize enforcement resources and make sure all officers are trained in its use.
Bring criminal justice community together
Mitch will bring together all of the members of the criminal justice community to speak with a united voice. He will:
- Work closely with the district attorney, federal prosecutors, Criminal District Court judges and the FBI in refining an agenda for keeping violent criminals off our streets.
- Develop a unified legislative agenda in Baton Rouge and Washington, D.C.
- Work with District Attorney’s Office and NOPD to create a viable witness protection program that encourages citizens to cooperate with police and prosecutors.
Continue reforms in juvenile justice system to prevent recidivism
Mitch will work with the Juvenile Justice Implementation Commission and criminal justice leaders in New Orleans to focus on the following priorities:
- Overhaul the Youth Study Center, or juvenile detention center, instituting a therapeutic model that reduces the risk of a return to crime.
- Work with parole officers, community leaders and family counseling organizations to develop stronger support mechanisms for juveniles returning to the community after their incarceration.
Focus on prevention by fixing NORD playgrounds and investing in afterschool programs
Mitch believes that fixing our neighborhoods will keep our families are safe and give children opportunities to play and learn. He will include community organizations, the business community, non-profits and education professionals in prevention efforts. Mitch will:
- Rebuild and adequately fund the New Orleans Recreation Department.
- Create an Office of Community Outreach in the Mayor’s office.
- Seek out the best models for early childhood education programs that can be brought to New Orleans.
- Enforce truancy and curfew laws to get school-aged children off the streets.
- Seek state and federal funds to support school-based mental health programs.
- Create a City Youth Council and invest in summer youth jobs program.
