Some New Orleanians skeptical of city and DOJ’s request to exit consent decree

Community members and elected officials are reacting to the city of New Orleans and U.S. Department of Justice’s attempt to close a yearslong chapter of federal oversight of the New Orleans Police Department.

On Sept. 27, the city and DOJ asked U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan to begin to ramp down the police department’s consent decree, which was put into place after a federal investigation found the department was engaging in unlawful behaviors, including excessive force, unconstitutional stops and discriminatory policing. City and federal officials say the department is now generally in compliance. Although not completely compliant in areas of searches and arrests, bias-free policing and community engagement, the DOJ has deemed NOPD’s conduct sufficient enough to warrant transitioning to the sustainment period.

If approved by Morgan, the city and DOJ will enter a two-year “sustainment” period, during which the NOPD will have to demonstrate that it can follow certain benchmarks to police itself. Even if Morgan approves the request to exit the decree, she can reverse that decision if the NOPD fails to meet agreed upon benchmarks of the sustainment period, as the judge wrote in a notice last week.

But at two separate events this week, residents, activists and politicians expressed concern and curiosity about the possibility of less federal oversight. Some told Verite News that they still see misconduct in the NOPD and wonder who will hold the police accountable if the consent decree ends.

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