NOPD Continues Its Melt down

I have a lot of respect for cops.  My dad was a cop for a long time back in Pontiac, MI including a short stint in Baldwin Park, CA back in the late 1950s.  The vast majority of them are hard working guys and gals who willingly put their lives on the line every day.  They have families and kids and participate in the community as much or more than most folks.  It’s always hard to see reports of cops who go bad.  It’s even more so when it appears that a large portion of a department appears to be tainted with the smell of corruption.

And so it appears with the New Orleans Police Department.  Maybe some of the stories are not exaggerated or even false, but there are enough of them that it all can’t be lies.  First we hear that a sizable portion of the force quit, left, whatever.  Then the chief of police quits amid reports that about a third of the force may not actually be ON the force.

And now this:  New Orleans Police Beating Caught on Tape

NEW ORLEANS - Two New Orleans police officers repeatedly punched a 64-year-old man accused of public intoxication, and another city officer assaulted an Associated Press Television News producer as a cameraman taped the confrontations.

And this:  Authorities look into claims New Orleans cops cleaned out Cadillac dealer

NEW ORLEANS Louisiana officials are looking into allegations that New Orleans police officers stole Cadillacs from a dealer as Hurricane Katrina closed in.

At first, the city's police chief said officers were using the cars for patrols. He said that was not looting. Now the department will only say it is cooperating with the state investigation.

If the city of New Orleans is to rebuild again, they need to redo the police force from the ground up.  The leadership needs to be free of taint and corruption.  The FBI should be a large part of the NOPD clean up.

Hat Tip:  Michelle Malkin

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