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TorresSmartCar1NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — He’s the man with a million ideas — and more than a few dollars to put behind every one of them.

Sidney Torres, IV, has worn hard hats, carried brooms, and watched for bad guys.  He’s the man from Saint Bernard Parish with the Midas touch.  And with all his success, you might think he’d just buy an island resort and spend some time on the beach, except he’s already done that, too.

Now Torres is circling around and rededicating himself to a mission that’s near and dear to his heart, and he also insists, to the city’s tourism revenue.

A little over a year ago, Torres brought all-terrain vehicles to the neighborhood for off-duty officers to use for additional security patrols.  He also introduced a mobile app that allows people in the Quarter to reach out for assistance from the officers.

Thursday morning (June 2), Torres announced he is spending $100,000 of his own money to beef up the security program.  He has a new version of the mobile app called FQ Task Force.  He’s also planning to replace the all-terrain vehicles the those maneuverable little Smart cars.  And just as he once had a control center in his home office for his SDT trucks, Torres says a new high-tech “war room” will be added to the NOPD’s 8th District on Royal Street.  The room will give officers access to multiple live cameras to help direct the 24-hour patrols.

torrestvTorres knows first-hand how security cameras can help catch bad guys.  In December of 2014, police arrested a suspect who was recorded on camera stealing a 60-inch television set from a home on Esplanade Avenue.  The home, tv and camera belonged to Torres.  He offered an $8,000 reward, and an arrest was made on Christmas Eve.

  • Original ATVs used for patrols
  • Patrols focus on French Quarter
  • Sidney Torres
  • Mayor Landrieu and Torres prior to their public dustup

Within days, Torres began airing a television commercial that basically called out city leaders for the crime problems in the French Quarter.  Torres said that if he could cleanup the trash in the neighborhood, the city should be able to cleanup the crime.  Mayor Landrieu responded that perhaps Torres could help contribute financially to the effort.

Since then, Torres has met with city leaders, been honored by business owners, and helped inspire an upcoming network series based on his crime fighting efforts.

A new hotel tax now supports the patrols through the French Quarter Improvement Fund, which also has its own administrator, Bob Simms.