NOPD Public Relations Crime Report

New Orleans Police Department- Public Information Office

First Quarter Crime Report  of 2012 Shows Significant Drop in Murder

(May 15, 2012)-  The first quarter of 2012’s Uniform Crime Report (UCR) for New Orleans shows the murder rate fell more than 27% from January through March, as compared to the first quarter of 2011.  The number of shootings dropped more than 5%.  And the number of burglaries- including home and auto burglaries- was also down, more than 16%.

While the number of rape cases reported through March of this year was the same as that of last year, there were increases in the number of assaults, thefts, as well as armed and simple robberies.

However, the number of arrests made in robbery cases during the first quarter of this year is up 65% compared to the number of arrests for robberies committed during the same time last year.   

“First and foremost, it’s encouraging to see a substantial drop in the number of homicides at the beginning of this year.  That has been Mayor Landrieu’s and my top concern, and the downward trend in that violent crime, which severely affects countless families and friends of victims, is what we want to see more of,” said Superintendent Ronal Serpas.

“In 2011, we outlined new crime-fighting initiatives.  We activated those initiatives in January and we have now developed a good stride.  We will continue to redouble our efforts until we can get all crime statistics down, and I’m confident that with our plans in place, overall crime will be down come December of this year,” Serpas said. 

“These numbers also reflect a public that calls its police department if it’s been a victim of crime.  Victims in New Orleans continue to contact the NOPD at an extremely high rate- about 80%- because they believe our officers will be effective in helping them.  That percentage beats the national average of reported calls by some 20%.   It’s apparent that New Orleans citizens are gaining faith in their police department, and I want to thank them for that.”

Resources -

www.NOLAReady.info

http://topics.nola.com/tag/nopd/index.html

Duration : 0:3:53

Who Dat Do Dat Jonathan Vilma Sues Commissioner Roger Goodell

Just when you thought the season could not get any crazier for the NFL, Roger Goodell and The New Orleans Saints it does. Jonathan Vilma, New Orleans Saints linebacker, has decided to sue Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner. This lawsuit is historic on many fronts.

Jonathan Vilma has what would seem to be a basis for his lawsuit. The punishment that Goodell has handed down to Vilma is based on facts received by third parties. Vilma did not provide any information since he was not interviewed in the investigation. Goodell says there are 50,000 pages of information but this information has not been made public. Goodell alleges that Vilma made an offer to give anyone who knocked Brett Favre out out of the 2010 playoff game $10,000 in cash.
How much Vilma will receive in damages in terms of how his career has been impacted will be difficult to determine. It does not have an impact on Vilma’s ability to perform on the field, if allowed to play whether for the New Orleans Saints or another NFL team. However, the statements made by Commissioner Goodell are very specific which will play in Vilma’s favor.

The most likely responses by the NFL are as follows:

1. It is frivolous suit and should be dismissed.

2. It can not move forward because it falls under the collective bargaining agreement. This means the suit should be dismissed.

3. Vilma is a public figure so actual malice must be proven if the suit goes forward.

4. The truth is not defamation and the statements regarding Vilma are true. The danger with this defense is that it will lead to discovery which the NFL wishes to avoid.

5. The NFL could also claim that it did not release any information to the media thus no real damage.

Vilma’s attorney’s could argue the following:

1. There is no language that allows the NFL or the commissioner to defame any player.

2. Goodell’s statements are so egregious that there would be no need to examine them any further and the court should rule in Vilma’s favor.

3. Vilma could say that the NFL impacted his ability to gain employment by releasing false information to potential employers, the other NFL teams.

This lawsuit is a challenge to a commissioner who has acted with more power than any other in U.S sports history. Goodell has wielded power to control the entire process when there has been any issue or complaint. The results will have a large impact on the sports industry whichever way it goes.

Resources:

Sports Illustrated: Saints Vilma Sues NFL’s Goodell

ESPN: Jonathan Vilma sues Roger Goodell

Herbal Incense

NOLA Gold Herbal Incense

There are many people who are now trying a legal for of  pot called Herbal Incense  that has severe effects. Herbal Incense is simply synthetic cannabis is a psychoactive herbal and chemical product which, when consumed mimics the effects of cannabis. Herbal Incense is best known by the brand names K2[1] and Spice,[2] both of which have largely become genericized trademarks used to refer to any synthetic cannabis product. (It is also for this reason that synthetic cannabis is often referred to as spice product, due to the latter.)

When synthetic cannabis blends first went on sale in the early 2000s it was thought that they achieved an effect through a mixture of legal herbs. Laboratory analysis in 2008 showed this was not the case and that they in fact contained synthetic cannabinoids which act on the body in a similar way to cannabinoids naturally found in cannabis, such as THC. A large and complex variety of synthetic cannabinoids, most often cannabicyclohexanol, JWH-018, JWH-073, or HU-210, are used in an attempt to avoid the laws which make cannabis illegal, making synthetic cannabis a designer drug. It has been sold under various brand names, online, in head shops and at some gas stations.

It is often marketed as “herbal incense”, however some brands market their products as “herbal smoking blends”.

In either case the products are usually smoked by users. Although synthetic cannabis does not produce positive results in drug tests for cannabis, it is possible to detect its metabolites in human urine. The synthetic cannabinoids contained in synthetic cannabis products have been made illegal in many European countries. On 24 November 2010, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency announced it would make five synthetic cannabinoids Schedule I drugs within a month using emergency powers. Prior to the announcement, several US states had already made them illegal under state law. As of March 1, 2011, five cannabinoids, JWH-018, JWH-073, CP-47,497, JWH-200, and cannabicyclohexanol are now illegal in the US.

I decided to give y’all and update on the SuperNova and let ya hear my thoughts on Nola Gold Herbal Incense. I’m from the city of the World Champs Nola Gold. It’s time I hit that b*t@h! I made a little commercial too, for fun. Enjoy the show!

Duration : 0:8:3

NOLA Gold Herbal Incense

Resources:

Wikipedia: Synthetic Cannabis

Is Flashing for Beads In New Orleans Allowed All Over The City?

Who Dat Do Dat Flashing For Beads On Bourbon Street

While it is thought that “flashing for beads” is allowed all over New Orleans all of the time this is incorrect. It is not a custom or a tradition. Flashing for beads is however allowed during Mardi Gras in the French Quarter and mainly on Bourbon Street. Anywhere else in the city, you run the risk of going to jail.

This means that you can enjoy Mardi Gras with your family in other parts of the city without having to worry that your children will see anything that would be inappropriate.

The main reason for this is the number of people. When Mardi Gras and the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras occur there are huge numbers of people crammed into a very small space. This makes it difficult for police to move and operate. This means that things happen that would not normally happen. Police have to pick their battles. So flashing for beads becomes a victimless crime that is not worth prosecuting.

So if you want to see real Mardi Gras traditions stay off of Bourbon Street. There are plenty of things to see that are exciting and suitable for the entire family. If however seeing women flashing for beads is your thing then head down to Bourbon Street.

Flashing for Mardi Gras Beads has become a controversial custom on Bourbon Street.

Duration : 0:1:50

Resources:

Mardi Gras New Orleans

New Orleans Mardi Gras Traditions

Welcome to Who Dat? Do Dat! New Orleans weather 10 day forecast! This is your New Orleans weather 10 day forecast. It will be updated daily. The New Orleans weather 10 day forecast is a valuable tool for planning all of your New Orleans outings. While you are here in NOLA there are plenty of people to see, places to go and things to do and the New Orleans weather 10 day forecast will come in very handy. The weather in New Orleans changes day to day. This is because of the city’s proximity to water. This is one of the reasons the New Orleans weather 10 day forecast is so valuable if you are traveling to New Orleans. Don’t miss any of them. Make sure you are not caught unawares. Be prepared for the Louisiana weather changes. Quick and convenient, just check here before you make your plans for the day!  

			High / Low (°F)	Precip. %
Today Feb 04		Rain	42°/32°	100 %
Sat Feb 05		Partly Cloudy	48°/36°	20 %
Sun Feb 06		Mostly Sunny	60°/46°	0 %
Mon Feb 07		Partly Cloudy	52°/36°	10 %
Tue Feb 08		Mostly Sunny	56°/47°	10 %
Wed Feb 09		T-Showers	63°/39°	40 %
Thu Feb 10		Showers / Wind	44°/32°	40 %
Fri Feb 11		Sunny	48°/41°	0 %
Sat Feb 12		Mostly Cloudy	57°/45°	20 %
Sun Feb 13		Showers	64°/49°	60 %

Good Morning NOLA!  Well we woke to an icy world this morning.  Not a common sight in these parts. Rainy and cold, rainy and cold… I know, it sounds like a broken record.  One hundred percent chance of rain today and not just rain but rain that freezes when it hits the ground.  By lunch time the temps should be above freezing but will drop again tonight.  The rain should be moving out by tomorrow leaving us with a cold but partly cloudy day for Saturday and Sunday as well.  Watch out for icy roads if you are out and about, especially overpasses.  I have no plans of leaving my warm little cocoon here at home.  There is a big pot of soup on the stove, as well as homemade cookies and a cake on the counter.  My hunny bunnies and I have a date with a new movie and some well loved books.  Y’all have a good day and I’ll see you in NOLA! 

Sharon Denise Talbot

Don’ t forget to check back tomorrow for your New Orleans weather 10 day forecast.

  New Orleans Weather 10 day forecast

Duration : 0:1:21

The video you will see on this web site is horrifying. The crimes committed against law-abiding gun owners are beyond comprehension. The arrogance of anti-gun politicians and government officials and their hate of freedom will churn your stomach. The law is the law, the Constitution is the Constitution. If ONE local mayor or police chief can decide what the Second Amendment means, it opens the door to tyranny—where ANY mayor or police chief can say what the Second Amendment means. You’ve seen this brand of abuse of freedom in the history books—in the pages about days of gun confiscations leading to the terror of Stalin, Mao and Hitler. But you’d never in a million years think it could happen in America. Well, it can and it did. And it will happen again unless we take action today. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Police Superintendent P. Eddie Compass unleashed a wave of confiscations with these chilling words: “No one will be able to be armed. We will take all weapons. Only law enforcement will be allowed to have guns.” Thousands of firearms were then confiscated from law-abiding gun owners. The police gave no paperwork or receipts for those guns. They just stormed in and seized them. With your help we’re going to make the first time in New Orleans the LAST time in America. Thank you! Now, one year later, these crimes against gun owners have snowballed into a far greater threat to our freedoms. Even though NRA secured a court order demanding their immediate and unconditional …

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Things to do in New Orleans:

Mardi Gras and the Jazz Festival are world famous events, but New Orleans hosts many festivals and celebrations throughout the year: www.nola.com/festivals

The Saint Charles Streetcar is the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world and is a "tourist attraction" in its own right. It is part of the public transit system, as are the Canal Street and Riverfront streetcar lines: www.norta.com

There is always music, but the bands change: Go to www.bestofneworleans.com and click on Music then Listings or to www.offbeat.com and click on Listings, then Music.

Note that music clubs often advertise "No Cover", meaning there is no charge for entering. However, clubs with "No Cover" often require that customers buy a beverage each for every "set " of music (which can be every 20 minutes) so KNOW THE PRICE before you sit down. Clubs do that because some people will sit in the club all evening drinking nothing (clubs only make money from the drinks they sell – not from the music). It is also a good idea to pay for each round of drinks (in clubs on Bourbon Street) as it is delivered so there can’t be any confusion at the end of the evening.

An incomplete guide to bars & clubs: www.neworleanscheapdrinks.com

About certain alcoholic beverages: Realize that some famous drinks are VERY potent compared with regular cocktails that have only 1 to 1 ½ ounces of alcohol. For example, a Hurricane is basically 3 or 4 ounces of rum in something like red Kool-Aid, and a Hand Grenade has at least 4 ½ ounces of Everclear + rum + vodka mixed with melon liquor. They don’t necessarily taste like an alcoholic beverage and it is easy to over-indulge.

Wander around the French Quarter, enjoy the architecture, watch the street entertainers (do tip), and visit some of the historic buildings that have been turned into museums (go to www.frenchquarter.com and click on Historic Attractions).

Assuming the weather is good, you can collect a sandwich lunch and eat in the riverfront park (watch the shipping) or in Jackson Square (a very nice park).

The Riverwalk shopping center has an air-conditioned food court with dining overlooking the river (www.riverwalkmarketplace.com). The Canal Place shopping center is in the French Quarter and has a cinema and higher-end shopping (Saks 5th Avenue, Brooks Brothers, etc.). Magazine Street is a miles-long shopping district: www.magazinestreet.com

Louisiana is the only US state that offers tax-free shopping for international visitors: http://www.louisianataxfree.com/

The lobby for the Westin Canal Place Hotel is on the 11th floor and overlooks the French Quarter. It is a great place for an afternoon drink/snack:(www.westin.com).

Cafe du Monde is in the French Quarter and you shouldn’t miss having cafe au lait & beignets (www.cafedumonde.com). Another great coffee shop is the Croissant d’Or (at 615 Ursulines Street), which is open from 7:00am to 2:00pm and has food in addition to pastry.

The Palm Court restaurant is very nice, has moderate prices, and traditional live jazz starting at 8:00pm: 1204 Decatur Street, tel 504-525-0200 (reservations are important and they are not open every day). The Palm Court is closed from about July 25th to about September 25th each year.

Maximo’s Italian Grill has great food and atmosphere: 1117 Decatur Street in the French Quarter, (504) 586-8883.

All of the famous restaurants (Antoine’s, Arnaud’s, Brennan’s, Commander’s Palace, etc.) have reopened. The Pelican Club (on Exchange Alley in the FQ) is not as well known but is the same type experience. Reservations are a good idea, and probably essential on weekends. Tujaques Restaurant (823 Decatur Street) is very traditional and has moderate prices: www.tujaguesrestaurant.com

Cafe Degas is a very French restaurant near City Park at 3127 Esplanade – which is not within walking distance of downtown (5 to 10 minutes by taxi). They are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays (504-945-5635).

The Napoleon House restaurant is at 500 Chartres Street in the FQ, and has a menu of great local dishes: www.napoleonhouse.com

Preservation Hall has traditional live Jazz, and doesn’t serve alcohol so all ages are welcome: www.preservationhall.com

New Orleans has ballet, opera, a symphony orchestra, and theatre:

www.nobadance.com
www.neworleansopera.org
www.lpomusic.com
www.lepetittheatre.com

There is a free ferry across the Mississippi at the "foot" of Canal Street. It is a short trip but like a harbor cruise w/o a guide: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/canal_street_ferry

The Aquarium, Audubon Zoo, and the new Insectarium are world-class attractions (www.auduboninstitute.org) and you should see them if you can. The Zoo is several miles from downtown. You can drive to the Zoo (which has free parking) or take public transit from the French Quarter.

The Louisiana State Museum is in the French Quarter: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/ New Orleans is also home to a number of other museums, such as the National World War II Museum (www.ddaymuseum.org) and the New Orleans Museum of Art (www.noma.org). Both can be reached by public transit: The WWII museum is in the central business district but a long walk from the French Quarter. NOMA is not within walking distance of downtown but has free parking. Go to www.neworleansmuseums.com for info on more museums.

Harrah’s Casino is in the Central Business District: www.harrahs.com (age 21 required for entry)

New Orleans City Park has a variety of attractions, including an amusement park with rides and attractions for children + free parking. City Park also presents "Celebration in the Oaks" from late November to early January: (www.neworleanscitypark.com).

Check www.frenchquarter.com for ideas about other things to do.

Hope you have a great time!