NOPD on track to have fewest officers in more than 75 years
New Orleans LA July 20th, 2024 As interim NOPD Superintendent Michelle Woodfork touts recent recruiting efforts to increase manpower within the force, the City Council’s public safety consultant says the NOPD is on track to have the fewest officers in more than 75 years.
Crime analyst Jeff Asher says the NOPD reported exactly 900 commissioned officers yesterday, which includes the addition of 37 new recruits expected through the rest of the year.
He says that if those numbers sustain to the end of the year, it will mark the lowest number of officers on the force since 1947 when the NOPD only had 892 officers.
“It is a milestone, yes. It’s also a sign of just how far down the department has fallen in terms of the number of officers,” Asher said.
He says the numbers represent about 243 officers for every 100,000 residents in New Orleans, the lowest rate since 1969.
“The department is going to fall by 40 to 50 officers total this year relative to where it was at the start of last year,” Asher said. “But maybe next year we see, possibly no growth but hopefully no loss.”
