NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – After four months of helping the NOPD patrol the streets of the French Quarter State Police are preparing to move out.
A redeployment extension for troopers ends this weekend.
By all accounts, crowd control in the downtown corridor has been more manageable the past several months; because state police have helped the NOPD boost manpower.
But the extra patrols will end after Halloween weekend.
“We really would like the State Troopers to say. I think they’ve done a good job as far as assisting with the crime. The crime has drastically went down,” businessman Ed Azemas said.
About 100 troopers were redeployed after the June 29th Bourbon Street shooting that killed one person and wounded nine others.
Since then there’s been a measurable difference.
“We’ve answered over 3,300 calls of service. We’ve arrested over 800 individuals which resulted in over 1500 criminal charges,” State Police Spokeswoman Melissa Matey said.
State Police are also credited with taking a million dollars in illegal narcotics off the streets, and they’ve seized 56 handguns.
An online petition has been started to keep troopers patrolling in and around the French Quarter.
“I would definitely sign it,” Azemas said.
Ed Azemas runs the QT Pie Boutique in the quarter.
He was pleased when deployment was extended past Labor Day weekend, even with fewer officers.
“The French Quarter is a big part of the city’s tax base. I really think we should protect it more,” Azemas said.
State Police Spokeswoman Melissa Matey says troopers aren’t leaving the city for good. Instead, they’ll be redeployed in other areas and will continue working with New Orleans Police.
“We’ll also be working with them on any active investigation that they request our assistance on. We’re also going to be looking for impaired drivers on the interstates and roadways,” Matey explained. “And even as the special events come rolling around with bayou classic, sugar bowl, new year’s eve, Mardi Gras of course we’re going to help supplement the new Orleans police department in every aspect in every way that we are capable of doing. We’re going to help them with.”
The French Quarter resident who started the online petition plans to send it to city and state officials. It’s doubtful to have any effect on the deployment ends Sunday night.
So far, the NOPD has not requested another extension of state police presence.