The New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released a public letter finding the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD)’s failure to report accurate crime statistics in accordance with state law has cost the City and its nonprofit partners at least $1.1 million, including grant money used to support crime victims. Due to the timing and frequency of crime-statistic reporting, the NOPD’s failure to comply with reporting requirements will continue to affect the amount of federal grant funding available to local organizations until at least the year 2031.

The New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released a public letter recommending the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) begin using payroll integration software to continue preventing secondary employment violations while saving officer work hours. The letter includes findings of an OIG review of policies and procedures used by the NOPD and the Office of Police Secondary Employment (OPSE) for work outside of regular police shifts.

The OIG examined trends in the New Orleans Police Department’s (NOPD) staffing levels, as well as the efforts the Department and other stakeholders have undertaken to improve recruitment and retention. The purpose of this review was to determine whether the NOPD’s current initiatives are effectively designed and consistent with best practices for recruitment and retention. The OIG is authorized to comment on rules, regulations, policies, and transactions for the purpose of preventing fraud, waste, and abuse in order to promote effective and efficient government.

The number of NOPD officers has decreased significantly over the last few years, to a level that raises concerns for public safety.
Due to the large number of officers separating from the NOPD, Louisiana’s Municipal Police Employees’ Retirement System (MPERS), the pension plan for police officers across the state, requires the City of New Orleans to pay $50,314.10 per month for up to 15 years, increasing to $214,112.67 per month in July 2024. If the NOPD fails to improve its staffing levels, these fines could cost the City more than $38 million over the next 15 years.