Metropolis Reality Forums - New Orleans police face looting probe

Sponsored by: The Fans!

Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register.
Nov 24^th, 2024, 7:38pm

Upcoming Premiere Dates:
Survivor 23, Season premiere
Thursday, September 14 (8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT) on CBS

Metropolis Reality Forums Ť New Orleans police face looting probe ť

   Metropolis Reality Forums
   Off-Topic Forums
   In the News (Moderators: lakelady, yesteach, MediaScribe, Bumper, Isle_be_back)
   New Orleans police face looting probe

Previous topic | New Topic | Next topic »

Pages: 1

Add Poll

Notify of replies

Send Topic

Author

Topic: New Orleans police face looting probe (Read 181 times)

Rhune
ForumsNet Administrator

Gender:

Posts: 292

New Orleans police face looting probe
« on: Sep 29^th, 2005, 8:15pm »

Quote

Modify

New Orleans police face looting probe
Acting Superintendent: 'There is zero tolerance'
From Drew Griffin
CNN

Thursday, September 29, 2005; Posted: 9:08 p.m. EDT (01:08 GMT)

NEW ORLEANS (CNN) -- Four New Orleans police officers have been suspended and one has been reassigned over allegations of looting in the chaos of post-Hurricane Katrina, acting Police Superintendent Warren Riley said Thursday.

The city's police department is investigating reports that at least 12 police officers may have gone on a looting spree in the days after the storm hit.

"There is zero tolerance for misconduct or unprofessionalism by any member of this department," said Riley, promising "swift and decisive action" against violators.

The officers are alleged to have taken non-essential items like televisions or jewelry or to not have acted against looting.

"The more than 2,000 men and women of this agency stand united in not letting a very small segment of members tarnish the great reputation of this department," Riley said. He added that they should be commended for "30 days of tremendous challenges."

Also on Thursday, Riley called the reports that some 250 officers did not report for work "simply not true." He said a list of those officers was being examined to identify deserters, adding that some were off the job for legitimate reasons.

"When we lost telephone service and radio communication, some officers were stranded on their rooftops for four to five days, stranded in areas around the water due to rising water or displaced into other units or divisions," Riley said.

"We had to rescue our own police officers," Riley said. "Clearly, not everyone on that list is a deserter."

Earlier, Capt. Marlon DeFillo acknowledged the looting investigation after officials reviewed a video showing an officer reaching for a gun as he blocked the door of hotel room.

The hotel's owner, Osman Khan, and an employee told CNN eight New Orleans officers had used the room to stage a four-day drinking and looting binge.

Khan told CNN that 70 police officers moved into his Amerihost Inn and Suites on August 29, the night New Orleans flooded. Most of the officers went out to fight looters and try to keep order on the streets.

But eight of the officers, he said, instead took over the 10th floor of the hotel and embarked on a looting spree of their own.

"They'd leave nine or 10 at night and come back 4:30 in the morning," carrying "everything from Adidas shoes to Rolex watches," Khan said.

Hotel engineer Perry Emery said the eight officers were drinking almost all of the time. When Emery came to the 10th floor to bring towels, he saw what the officers had accumulated.

"Jewelry, generators, fans. One time they came back with a bunch of weapons," Emery said. He said he had no doubts about what he witnessed: "These were New Orleans police officers -- looting."

One generator, Khan said, was stolen -- as he watched -- from Tulane University Hospital next door. He added that the officers ran an extension cord to a refrigerator in their room to keep their beer cold.

Khan and Emery's accounts are not the only reports of alleged police looting. Several witnesses said police are continuing to loot unoccupied homes. The empty city, they say, has made it easy for corrupt officers to take whatever they want.

Erlaine McLaurin said she saw two police cars pull up to an apartment building down the street from where she lives. Then she and her father watched as two officers walked inside and came out with their arms full.

"They [filled] up the white car, the police car," McLaurin said. "He got a four pack of soda, a microwave, CD player. Put that in," she said. "I know everybody that lives here. Ain't no cops live here."

In the building, seven of 12 apartment doors appear to have been kicked, pushed or battered off their frames. It did not appear likely that rescue workers broke down the doors because the neighborhood wasn't flooded.

City resident Steve Thomas said he watched police kick in the door to a Lower Garden District home. He has no doubts he saw the officers looting. "They got police escorts coming in here, breaking in houses and taking the stuff," he said.

Police Superintendent Eddie Compass announced Tuesday he would retire. He said he stepped down at the urging of Mayor Ray Nagin, who named Riley to replace him. A department spokesman said Compass' resignation was not related to the looting probe.

IP Logged