Officials with the Louisiana National Guard, State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department have met to develop a contingency plan for the Louisiana National Guard Mobilization to the city. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says she wants to work with the Guard.
The Louisiana National Guard says federal funding for the pending mobilization has yet to be approved, and no troops are currently mobilized in Louisiana for public safety support.
“If you’re going to come, let’s do it in partnership. And I think we’ve proven here that we’ve had good relationships, even with our National Guard,” Kirkpatrick said.
Kirkpatrick says she understands both sides of the political debate over the issue, and that she wants the National Guard to work in cooperation with NOPD.
“I do expect that there’s going to be a give-and-take appearing from us, NOPD, where our needs are. If you’re going to send us these troops, then let’s participate together about where we think the needs are,” Kirkpatrick said.
In Baton Rouge, Republican Mayor-President Sid Edwards says he’s fully on board with sending the National Guard to the city, saying he ran for the office on a platform of cracking down on crime.
“You worry, ‘Okay, could this work?’ I think it can, and I think we should welcome him in as a community and give it a chance,” Edwards said.
Edwards says there are a lot of misconceptions about the National Guard’s role in law enforcement, saying the Guard is not trying to take over cities.
“Can they help with the Mardi Gras parade? Can they help with the Christmas parade? Can they help the festivals? Heck, will they help pick up trash, which would help with blight? There’s just a lot. But my vision of it isn’t for them to come in and be the Gestapo,” Edwards said.
