Comments on: “Credibility” is not just a BS political hurdle http://thelensnola.org/2010/02/26/%e2%80%9ccredibility%e2%80%9d-is-not-just-a-bs-political-hurdle/ Investigative Journalism from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast States Wed, 16 May 2012 20:21:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Eli Ackerman http://thelensnola.org/2010/02/26/%e2%80%9ccredibility%e2%80%9d-is-not-just-a-bs-political-hurdle/comment-page-1/#comment-431 Eli Ackerman Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:48:46 +0000 http://thelensnola.org/?p=3972#comment-431 I don't feel like I was ahead of the curve at all. Our neighbors have been howling about post-Katrina wanton violence by New Orleans police for years. It is a shame that it is taking so long for us to seriously investigate and prosecute these crimes. I am hopeful that convictions in the murders on Danziger bridge will provide some measure of vindication for those that have been far better justice advocates than I, but I also dread the political impulse to "move on" or "look forward" out of fear of a full confrontation with the truth. Putting the Danziger 7 in jail does not mean we will have a healthy criminal justice system. There are cumulative problems that need to be dealt with radically and seriously. I don’t feel like I was ahead of the curve at all. Our neighbors have been howling about post-Katrina wanton violence by New Orleans police for years. It is a shame that it is taking so long for us to seriously investigate and prosecute these crimes. I am hopeful that convictions in the murders on Danziger bridge will provide some measure of vindication for those that have been far better justice advocates than I, but I also dread the political impulse to “move on” or “look forward” out of fear of a full confrontation with the truth. Putting the Danziger 7 in jail does not mean we will have a healthy criminal justice system. There are cumulative problems that need to be dealt with radically and seriously.

]]> By: Jeff http://thelensnola.org/2010/02/26/%e2%80%9ccredibility%e2%80%9d-is-not-just-a-bs-political-hurdle/comment-page-1/#comment-429 Jeff Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:31:48 +0000 http://thelensnola.org/?p=3972#comment-429 E, just wanted to give you props for totally calling this months (if not a year) ago. This is indeed a systemic problem, and requires reform that by definition has to come from the outside, not incremental change from within. I hope this is the beginning of the change that we need. E, just wanted to give you props for totally calling this months (if not a year) ago. This is indeed a systemic problem, and requires reform that by definition has to come from the outside, not incremental change from within.

I hope this is the beginning of the change that we need.

]]> By: dsb http://thelensnola.org/2010/02/26/%e2%80%9ccredibility%e2%80%9d-is-not-just-a-bs-political-hurdle/comment-page-1/#comment-428 dsb Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:12:48 +0000 http://thelensnola.org/?p=3972#comment-428 Right. There's no reason to be defensive about picking someone from outside the department. Cities do national searches for police chiefs all the time. Besides, it's not like anyone's talking about some kind of de-Baathification program. It's just obvious this police department has a credibility problem, as Eli well describes, so it's kind of a no-brainer we should look to someone who has had some degree of success in his/her career, as well as less baggage. That's not to say it would be impossible for someone locally to emerge in the search process, it's not like locals should be excluded (and I'm sure nobody is advocating that), but you'd think we would have heard of him/her by now. New Orleans matters enough to attract top talent for this (I think we all agree) crucial position. It seems doubtful--at best--the ideal candidate is currently an NOPD officer. Maybe there's a future chief on the force, but ready to step in right now? Right. There’s no reason to be defensive about picking someone from outside the department. Cities do national searches for police chiefs all the time. Besides, it’s not like anyone’s talking about some kind of de-Baathification program. It’s just obvious this police department has a credibility problem, as Eli well describes, so it’s kind of a no-brainer we should look to someone who has had some degree of success in his/her career, as well as less baggage. That’s not to say it would be impossible for someone locally to emerge in the search process, it’s not like locals should be excluded (and I’m sure nobody is advocating that), but you’d think we would have heard of him/her by now.

New Orleans matters enough to attract top talent for this (I think we all agree) crucial position. It seems doubtful–at best–the ideal candidate is currently an NOPD officer. Maybe there’s a future chief on the force, but ready to step in right now?

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