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The OIG investigated the released confidential materials in the NOPD Officer Jeffrey Vappie case conducted by the NOPD PIB. The purpose of this review was to determine if the Police Officer Bill of Rights, La. R.S. 40:2532, was violated in this case. The law states: that “[n]o person, agency, or department shall release to the news media, press or any other public information agency, a law enforcement officer’s home address, photograph, or any information that may be deemed otherwise confidential, without the express consent of the law enforcement officer, with respect to an investigation of the law enforcement officer.” 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 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.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is authorized to comment on rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and transactions for the purpose of preventing fraud, waste, and abuse, or promoting efficient and effective government. This letter concerns the City’s use of public funds to purchase specialized tires and rims, which totaled $42,270, to replace the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) tires and rims included on new police package vehicles assigned to New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) Commanders.

The purchase was in possible violation of City procurement policy, as well as Louisiana Public Bid Law because it did not comply with the State contract that was used.

On November 29, 2022, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a Request for Documents to the former Superintendent of Police, Shaun D. Ferguson. The Request for Documents included any policies, standard operating procedures and threat assessments involving the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers assigned to the Mayor’s Executive Protection Team (EPT) during the period January 1, 2018 to November 29, 2022. On December 23, 2022, the City Attorney’s Office responded to this Request for Records on behalf of your office and stated:

NOPD does not have responsive records regarding Threat Assessments, Security Plans, Critical Incident Response Plans and Training, and Site Surveys related to operations completed by the Mayor’s Detail.

The Office of Inspector General of the City of New Orleans (OIG) conducted an evaluation of the management and operations of the Traffic Camera Safety Program (TCSP or “program”). The purpose of the evaluation was to determine whether the program was operating in accordance with applicable laws, policies, and best practices, and whether the City provided effective oversight of the program.

The TCSP started in 2007 and used photos and video footage to issue traffic citations for red light and speeding violations, particularly in school zones. The stated purpose of the program was to improve traffic safety.

The New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a performance audit of the New Orleans Police Department’s (NOPD) documenting and reporting of rapes to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR Program) for the period of October 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015. The OIG conducted this audit as a result of two reports issued in 2014 that showed serious systemic problems with NOPD’s documenting and reporting of rapes.

The New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) evaluated the funding of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) from 2008 to 2012. The purpose of this review was to provide policy makers and the public with a complete picture of NOPD spending and performance.

The report is part of an ongoing series about the funding of local agencies in the justice system.

The New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed 90 sex crime related reports that were obtained by the OIG’s Audit Division during the course of a previous report. In the course of that review, the Investigations Division identified detectives in the Special Victims Section of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) who failed to provide documentation of investigative effort and results or who provided questionable documentation in some of their investigations of sex crimes.

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