Who will be the new chief?

This is an update, and a bit of a rewrite, of a NOcrimeline column that was first published 11.18.08

Who will be the new police chief?: Since Big Chief Warren Riley has promised to quit his post when Mayor Nagin leaves office 5.3.10, Mitch Landrieu's biggest job will be picking a new police chief who can get the job done.

(Riley reportedly told a group the other day that Landrieu keeping him on would be like President Obama having kept Dick Chaney on.)

Nagin put little effort in choosing his boyhood pal, Eddie Compass, as police chief when he took office without any apparent outside input; then he thrust Riley into the post when Compass had his meltdown during Katrina, again without any real search for the best person. Landrieu, on the other hand, is handing the task to a transition team and expects to have a new police chief in place when he takes office 5.3.10.

(It's rumored that former NOPD chief Richard Pennington, who just retired as Atlanta's police chief, will be on that taskforce. Others who maybe should be: former special agent in charge of the FBI here, Jim Bernazzani, and the city's first inspector general Bob Cerasoli.)

So who will Landrieu consider? Who will get the nod? Some automatically say "bring in someone from the outside," as Pennington was in 1994 from Washington, D.C. when the NOPD was rife with corruption. However, today corruption in the department is not so much a problem (except for a few officers who can't keep it in their pants) as officer morale is.

A new chief has to first resuscitate morale among the rank-and-file to transform the NOPD into the crime-fighting force the city deserves. Appointing a chief from within the department--or someone with past links to it--would go a long way toward convincing current officers that the NOPD is not a dead-end career.

Many say the best choice from INSIDE the department is Capt. Jeff Winn. A highly-decorated 23-year veteran of the NOPD and a hero of Katrina who supplied leadership when there was none. His drawback is he's young, but he's experienced (former SWAT team commander, former 1st District commander, currently commander of the criminal intelligence division) and no commanders on the NOPD merit more respect from the rank and file.

However, a current federal investigation of excessive use of force after Katrina by the NOPD is believed to have Winn, among others, in its sights; rumors speculate that an indictment is imminent. Those with allegiance to Winn say it's unfair to target someone who was willing to step up in the midst of such a historic calamity when others weren't.

Best choice from OUTSIDE the department? Ronal Serpas. Serpas was plucked from the ranks of the NOPD and made the first chief of operations when Pennington drastically reorganized the department in the mid-90s. When he took over as boss of the district commanders, crime dropped drastically in the city.

A 27-year veteran of law enforcement with a doctorate from LSU, he went on to become chief of the Washington State Police in 2001 and then Police Chief of Nashville, Tennessee, in 2004, which has a police force similar in size to New Orleans' for a city/county much larger. In both jobs, he managed to reduce crime significantly; Nashville has experienced a drop in crime every year he's been chief there.

Another--more or less--outsider is Louis Dabdoub who was a rising star in the NOPD until he clashed with Chief Compass.

When I first met Capt. Dabdoub after he was named commander of the 8th District in 2002, I remember coming home and telling my wife that I had just met the guy who was going to be the city's police chief someday. I still think he should be given serious consideration for the job.

He was a gritty street cop who amazed those under him when he would jump in and make a collar when necessary. I once remember him being late to a Lower Quarter Crime Watch meeting--he had stopped to arrest a miscreant near Jackson Square he encountered on the way.

Because he always made time to listen to any citizen's complaint, Capt. Dabdoub was largely loved by the residents of the French Quarter, if not universally by gutter punks and unscrupulous merchants. It was during a sweep of businesses in the Quarter which lacked proper licensing that he ran afoul of the powers that be; it was said some of those busted had close ties to Mayor Nagin.

Dabdoub was banished unceremoniously from the 8th District to the 4th District (Algiers), an obvious demotion. Not long after he resigned from the NOPD and went to work for the Federal Protective Service, charged with protecting federal buildings and personnel, as part of Homeland Security. He's now manager of corporate security for Entergy.

If Dabdoub could be induced to come back to the NOPD as chief, he could be just the one to give the department the ass-kicking it needs.

Don't count out Assistant Chief Marlon Defillo, currently the No. 2 man in the department. As a 27-year veteran of the NOPD, Defillo's not a bad choice. I worked with him on Nagin's public safety transition team in 2002; he's intelligent and articulate, listens to others and is persuasive in stating his position.

But the rap on him is that he lacks street-level command experience over a division, other than leading the Public Integrity Bureau and the Public Information Office.

(For more insight into the picking of a police chief, see WWL's Sunday Edition.)

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As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.com.

Thom Kahler

One-man crime wave

Look out!: 8th District detectives have sworn out 3 arrest warrants for Arthur Dillon, 22, who is believed to be responsible for 3 armed robberies in the past week.

He is described as a black dude in his early 20's, 5'7" to 6' tall, with a medium build, in one case wearing a black coat with a hood and in another a gray hooded sweatshirt.

Dillon's suspected sins so far:

• Saturday (1.30.10) 8:00 p.m.: 5 white women were getting into their car at N. Rampart and Pauger streets in the Marigny Triangle when an armed black guy came up and demanded their money. They complied and he hopped into a waiting vehicle which fled on Pauger toward St. Claude Avenue.

• Thursday (2.4.10) 11:29 p.m.: A white couple were getting into their car at S. Diamond and Fulton streets (across from the Convention Center) when they were robbed by an armed black guy who fled with their cash into the getaway car which headed down Convention Center Boulevard to Andrew Higgins Drive.

• Friday (2.5.10) 11:29 p.m.: Back in his old 'hood the very next night at the exact time as the night before (what? his mama got him on a midnight curfew?) an armed gunman accosted a white woman in the 1500 block of Pauger Street (between Burgundy and Dauphine streets in the Triangle, a block from the robbery the Saturday before) and made off with her money. The victim didn't say whether he fled in a vehicle, but she did positively identify Dillon from a photo line-up shown to her by detectives.
  

Robberies by others: Other robberies marred the past week:

• Tuesday (2.2.10) 4:30 a.m.: A white guy was robbed at Gravier and Camp streets when a black derelict asked him for a dollar. When the victim took his wallet out of his pocket (carry loose change, buddy) the robber grabbed it and ran.

The thief was described as 40 to 45 years old, 5'9" tall, weighing 150 pounds, wearing a red and black sweatshirt and jeans.

• Monday (2.8.10) 1:30 a.m.: It was white-on-white crime when a white guy grabbed a white woman's purse while she was walking in the 600 block of Dauphine Street (between Toulouse and St. Peter streets).

The crook was 5'8" tall, weighing 160 pounds, wearing a black cap, Saints' jersey (who wasn't wearing one last week--but what number?), and blue jeans.

Bang-up time: What's a celebration without a shooting? Young thugs in and around the French Quarter had to knock off a few rounds to have a good time:

• Friday (2.5.10) 8:30 p.m.: A 15-year-old black boy got into an argument with 2 other black punks in the 100 block of University Place, just off Canal Street where the Krewe of Oshun's parade had rolled minutes before. One, a 16-year-old, pulled out a small-caliber pistol and blasted the younger boy in the leg. He was treated and released from the hospital.

The shooter and his weapon were seized, but because the young thug is a juvenile the police won't release his name (wouldn't want the cold, heartless punk traumatized). So we won't know when this creep is out walking the streets again--and armed again.

• Monday (2.8.10) 12:03 a.m.: 3 adults--a white man, 25, and 2 black women, one 30 and the other 36--were standing near Iberville and Bourbon streets when they heard shots fired and then realized they had been wounded in their legs. They did not see the shooter and they were released after being treated for minor wounds.

• Monday (2.8.10) 1:34 a.m.: A Hispanic man walking near Bourbon and Conti streets felt a pain in his chest, and noticed a puncture wound to his chest. He told police he was unsure how he had been cut.

What's with all these folks--kids and adults alike--walking around armed with guns while so many human targets are in close proximity? I have no quarrel with properly licensed gun owners who want to protect themselves. But kids and felons seem to be more heavily armed than law-abiding citizens.

Maybe kids just don't have respect for the law; they see their "heroes" like rapper Lil Wayne weasel their way out of punishment for violating gun laws.

Yesterday Lil Wayne, who a day earlier was bragging about how he welcomed going to jail, told a NY judge he forgot he had a dentist's appointment in Miami; he obviously preferred a root canal (or maybe more gold implants) if it would stall his sentencing to a year in jail by a month.

The felons aren't smart enough to stay away from guns when they get out of jail. If they were smart, they wouldn't be felons in the first place.

Want to put an end to this? If a kid is caught with a gun, try him as an adult and don't let him hide behind being 16, or 15, or 14, or... Let him do some real time. And make the parents pay too--in fines or jail time.

As for felons, turn them over to the feds for prosecution that is far more severe than what the local courts mete out.

Put pressure on the cops to try to catch kids and felons with weapons. If a kid looks like he's young enough to be breaking curfew, stop him and see--and see if he's armed. If a felon so much as spits on the sidewalk, stop him and see if he's armed and carrying.

Let's get these scumbags off the street so honest citizens don't have to arm themselves to be safe in crowds.

Coming back to work, Leon?: Now that DA Leon Cannizzaro's attempt at being a kingmaker has turned out to be a dismal failure, perhaps he can get back to the job we elected him to do: Get the bad guys off the streets.

His office is dragging out the prosecution of 2 juveniles accused of murdering Wendy Byrnes over a year ago, most recently asking the court for a delay that postpones any action until 3.9.10. On top of that, his office still refuses to say if it's going to charge the third suspect--a 14-year-old--as an adult.

Job One: Police chief?: Many are hailing the landslide election of Mitch Landrieu as mayor as an opportunity for him to use the time between now and inauguration 5.3.10 to search and find a new police chief by then. Having a new chief to make the streets of New Orleans safe again can't come too soon. The sooner Landrieu begins looking, the sooner we can enthusiastically celebrate his election.

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As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.com

Thom Kahler

Who dat say...

...they gonna rob these folks?: The city's downtown was as crime-free as you could expect 100,000 or so liquored-up folks to be after the Saints beat the Vikings (and I do mean "beat"--ask Brett Favre about that) Sunday (1.24.10) night. But shortly after the stroke of midnight, the bad guys resumed their bad ways:

• Monday (1.25.10) 1:46 a.m.: An Asian woman walking in the 400 block of Bourbon Street (between Conti and St. Louis streets) had her purse snatched by a black punk who fled on foot.

He is described as 5'6" tall, with a medium build and dark complexion, wearing a red pullover shirt and jeans.

• Monday (1.25.10) 3:29 a.m.: A white guy using the ATM at 440 Bourbon St. was robbed of his withdrawal by a black thug.

Officers caught up with Harold Green, 29, and charged him with simple robbery and extortion. He is being held in OPP on $25,000 bond.

• Tuesday (1.26.10) 11:17 a.m.: A white woman walking along Ursulines Avenue (between Dauphine and Burgundy streets) had her purse stolen by a black dude who pushed her and then grabbed her purse away from her.

He was described as 24 to 26 years old, weighing 180 to 190 pounds.

• Tuesday (1.26.10) 6:24 p.m.: A white man walking in the 500 block of St. Louis Street (between Decatur and Chartres streets) was robbed at gunpoint by a black guy.

The perp was described as 30 years old, 5'8" to 5'10" tall, weighing 160 to 170 pounds, wearing a dark-colored hoodie and jeans.

Some violence after all: There were a couple incidents of reported violence on Sunday (1.24.10), before and after the game, both in the CBD:

• 1:46 a.m.: A white guy driving on the far reach of Convention Center Boulevard where it joins Henderson Street as it cuts over to Tchoupitoulas Street, was almost sideswiped by a car full of black dudes. As he looked over at the black 4-door Toyota Camry, he saw one of them pointing a pistol at him.

The culprits' car fled onto the Crescent City Connection toward the West Bank.

• 10:15 p.m.: A white guy standing at O'Keefe Avenue and Poydras Street, not far from the Superdome about the time the Saints' championship game concluded, was accosted by another white guy who allegedly pulled a knife and threatened him.

The victim and a bystander grabbed the suspect, who was identified as Kenneth C. Bennett, 26. Police charged him with aggravated assault and booked him into Central Lockup. He bonded out Thursday (1.28.10) after posting bond of $2,500.

What's with the DA?: It's funny, you can't get District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro to tell you anything about what's happening with the prosecution of the punks blamed in the murder of Wendy Byrne, but he's got all the time in the world to make TV ads for some dubious candidates.

First, it was an ad for Jay Batt, a politician so disliked by his constituents that they voted him out of office 4 years ago in favor of Shelley Midura for a seat on the city council. Now he wants it back for whatever reason, and his old buddy Cannizzaro is right at his side.

Then, Leon comes out for John Georges for mayor because he says Georges is against crime. Who isn't? Cannizzaro says he's known Georges for 30 years; he doesn't say how much moola Georges pumped into his campaign coffers when he ran for DA.

If you're really against crime, does it make sense to be in cahoots with a candidate who's so tightly enmeshed in organized gambling?

Apparently Georges saw the error of his ways when he ran for governor in 2007 and he told the media he sold his gambling businesses and gave up his state gambling licenses. But a few months after being beaten for governor, he said the deal to sell the businesses was off and he wanted his licenses back. Georges remains heavily involved in organized gambling.

And Cannizzaro better hope he never gets Georges up on the witness stand expecting straight answers. It's pretty hard to get the truth from a carpetbagging opportunist.

Georges says he was a lifelong Republican, except when he thought it would serve him better to run as an independent for governor in 2007. Then when he ran for mayor he decided it would be better to run as a Democrat, noting the heavy Democratic voter registration in the city.

When he ran for governor he listed his business address in Jefferson Parish, where the bulk of his businesses are. When he signed to run for mayor, he listed a P.O. box in N.O. So where does he really live? Maybe if he loses this election, he can run for Aaron Broussard's vacated job in JP.

Add to the mix Leon's buddy-buddy relationship with federal felon Billie Schultz, who was heavily involved in his campaign and is now helping on Georges'. Schultz was an intimate advisor to former mayor Marc Morial, though his conviction on tax charges wasn't linked to his tenure there.

If you want to see what Schultz looks like, that's him as Igor in the video ad for fellow federal felon Dwight McKenna who's wants to be coroner.

And, Leon, stick to solving the crime problem in the city--we didn't elect you to be a kingmaker.

Does this make sense?: Since the only crime lately seems to have to do with politicians, you have to ask this question:

Why loan your campaign sums of money from your own pocket that far exceeds what you'll ever make in the job if you get elected?

For a guy who claims to be an astute businessman, Georges spent $11 million-plus of his own money to try to be governor. So far he's north of $3 million to try to be mayor. Is the graft really that good? Georges is not someone likely to need dirty money, but it's still a lot of money to assuage your ego and get everybody to like you.

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As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.com

Thom Kahler

Now, where were we?

Maybe everyone's watching the Saints: Only a half dozen or so robberies reported in the last week or so in the 8th District (French Quarter, Marigny Triangle, CBD/Warehouse District).

Main target (according to Maj. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th): iPhones.

Apparently the attraction is the thief can pop in his own SIM chip into the purloined phone and have it activated at any phone store, walking out with a fully-functioning $300 phone.

Main victims: oblivious jabberers walking down the street too busy talking/texting on their iPhones to notice a robber approaching.

Robberies reported recently:

• Wednesday (1.20.10) 11:45 p.m.: A white woman walking in the 300 block of Chartres Street (between Conti and St. Louis streets) had her purse stolen by a black guy who grabbed it from her shoulder and then fled on Chartres toward Esplanade Avenue.

The perp is described as 26 to 28 years old, 6' to 6'2" tall, wearing a gray hoodie.

• Tuesday (1.19.10) 1:25 a.m.: A woman sitting alone in her car in the 800 block of Royal Street (between St. Ann and Dumaine streets) lost her purse when one of 2 black guys grabbed it from her lap and fled on foot.

Cops caught up with Neil Hawkins (left), 24, and Brian Lockett (right), 38, and charged them with pursesnatching. Hawkins was also charged with public intimidation. Hawkins is being held on $20,000 bond and Lockett on $25,000 bond.

• Sunday (1.17.10) 7:40 p.m.: 2 white guys walking in the 1900 block of Burgundy Street (between Pauger and Touro streets) were robbed by 2 black dudes, one of whom was toting a pistol.

The perps were described as in their 30's, one 5'11" tall, weighing 200 pounds, wearing a black long-sleeved shirt; the other 6' tall, with a medium build, wearing all dark clothing.

• Saturday (1.16.10) 11:00 p.m.: 2 white men were robbed by a lone armed black guy in the 600 block of John Churchill Chase Street (between Annunciation and Tchoupitoulas streets).

The felon fled on foot on Annunciation. He is described as 25 to 35 years old, 5'8" tall, with a stocky build and dark complexion, wearing a gray hoodie.

• Saturday (1.16.10) 9:48 p.m.: A white guy walking in the 600 block of Royal Street (between Toulouse and St. Peter streets) and blabbing on his cellphone had it snatched from his hand by a lone black fella.

The robber, who fled up Royal toward Canal Street, was described as 25 years old, 6'1" tall, with a thin build and dark complexion, wearing a gray hoodie and blue jeans.

• Sunday (1.10.10) 6:29 a.m.: A trio of heavily-armed black hoodlums knocked over the Republic bar, 828 S. Peters St. when they barged in, demanding from the bartender and several patrons.

All the robbers were described as 6' or taller, each weighing 200 pounds, one wearing a black hoodie, black pants and black ski mask; the second one wearing a black hoodie, black pans and black knit cap; and the third wearing a black hoodie, black pants and a red bandana.

• Sunday (1.10.10) 12:49 a.m.: A white woman walking in the 900 block of Decatur Street (between Dumaine and St. Philip streets) while entranced on her cellphone didn't notice the black guy approaching who relieved her of the infernal gadget.

The thief was described as 5'10" tall, weighing 200 pounds, wearing a blue/green hoodie and blue knit cap.

They were all kung-fu fighting: Well, maybe nothing so elaborate, but the cops busted several guys for recent altercations:

• A fight Tuesday night (1.19.09) around 11:30 p.m. at Bourbon and St. Peter streets resulted in both combatants being issued municipal summons for their role in the melee. So the story goes: A street performer tried to break up a fight between male and female gutter punks when the gutter guy turns on the performer who then defended himself with a knife.

• On 1.8.10, 8th District detectives arrested Freddie Greenup, 36, for aggravated battery after allegedly walloping a white guy with a pool cue during an altercation at The R Bar, 1431 Royal St., on 12.13.09. Greenup managed to bail out of Central Lockup on $35,000 bond almost before anyone knew he was there. The drug trade must be good this time of year.

• James Salas, 28, was arrested 1.6.10 and charged with aggravated battery after he got into a argument with a buddy in the 1000 block of Canal Street (near Rampart Street) and allegedly cut his friend on the head with an unknown weapon. He managed to post $7,500 bond and got out of jail 5 days later.
  

Close enough to count: These couple of crimes happened just outside the 8th District, but you should know about them in case you accidentally wander outside of the friendly confines of the French Quarter:

• Saturday (1.16.10) 11:15 a.m.: A black dude held up a bar in the 2200 block of St. Claude Avenue (just across Elysian Fields Avenue between Marigny and Mandeville streets). It could have been Kajun's Pub, Cowpokes, or Hi Ho Lounge (the 5th District police report isn't specific). He first ordered a Heineken. When the bartender returned from the cooler with the requested beverage he found himself looking down the barrel of a dark-colored semi-automatic pistol. The robber demanded, "Give me the poker money!"

The bartender told him it was inside a box behind the second counter. As he walked behind the counter to retrieve it, he ducked down and yelled "Gun!" toward the bar owner who was standing to the left of the bar. The owner fled out the side door as the robber jumped over the bar and aimed his gun once again at the bartender.

This time the bartender surrendered the drawer from the cash register and the poker box, and the robber ran out the front door with both.

The robber was described as 5'8" tall, weighing 170 pounds, wearing a dark-colored baseball cap, a red hoodie with yellow designs on front, dark jeans, and off-white tennis shoes.

• Saturday (1.9.10) 5:00 a.m.: 2 victims (men? women? both? white? black?--the 1st District report isn't specific) were robbed at gunpoint as they walked in the 1100 block of Esplanade Avenue (just across N. Rampart Street, near St. Claude Avenue). The robber fled on the same blue bicycle he rode in on, down St. Claude toward St. Bernard Avenue.

The robber was described as 25 to 35 years old, wearing a black Saints jacket and black knit cap. (Gee, that really narrows it down.)

Deadly driver detained: The allegedly drunk driver of a car who slammed into a police cruiser, killing a veteran 8th District officer, was charged yesterday (1.20.10) with vehicular homicide.

Gino Ray, 24, turned himself in and was released this morning (1.21.10) on a $15,000 bond set by Magistrate Judge Gerard Hansen. He had previously been charged with DWI, reckless driving, disregarding a red light, and driving without a seatbelt.

If convicted of the vehicular homicide charge he would face 5 to 30 years in prison, though because his blood alcohol level was slightly less than .15 he would be eligible for parole in as little as 3 years.

Ray is accused of running a red light at St. Charles Avenue and St. Joseph Street in the CBD around 4:30 a.m. on 1.9.10 and ramming his 2009 Dodge Ram pickup truck into the cop car driven by rookie Ofc. Cordae Hankton with Ofc. Alfred Celestain Sr. riding in the passenger seat as the rookie's training officer.

Celestain, a 20-year veteran of the NOPD, was trapped in the crushed cruiser and after he was extricated, he and Hankton were taken to LSU Interim Hospital. Hankton had minor injuries and was released; Celestain had fractured ribs and a hip plus facial cuts, but he went into a coma from a brain injury. His family chose to remove him from life-support and he died 1.11.10.

A funeral mass for Celestain, 54, and the father of 3 children ranging in age from 32 to 4 years old, will be said at 10 a.m. tomorrow (1.22.10) at St. Louis Cathedral.

Good cop gone bad? This one has police officers and others scratching their heads. Why did Ofc. Patrick O'Hern pull out his service weapon and fire it into his own personal vehicle last month?

The incident happened in the rooftop parking lot at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, where many 8th District officers park their cars while on duty, around 2 p.m. 12.12.09 just after coming on duty.

A good cop by all reports from his superiors, he was arrested 1.14.10 by the NOPD's Public Integrity Bureau and charged with illegally discharging a firearm. He was placed on desk duty after the incident and was suspended without pay after his arrest.

Seems like harsh treatment for what may be a troubled officer.

Remembering Wendy Byrne: Last Sunday was the anniversary of the murder of Wendy Byrne in the early evening of 1.17.09 at Dauphine and Gov. Nicholls streets in the French Quarter.

It would be easy to think the judicial system has forgotten her:

• Her killing no longer shows up on the NOPD's crime map.

• The 16-year-old black boys--Drey Lewis and Reggie Douglas--charged as adults in her murder, appeared in court this past Tuesday (1.19.10) for a hearing on motions, which the DA drug out to 3.9.10.

• The third teen charged in the case--14-year-old Ernest Cloud--is still in limbo. The juvenile court has to rule before he can be tried as an adult too. DA Leon Cannizzaro's office has failed to answer requests for information on Cloud's status. So much for transparency, Leon.
  

Where are the strawberries?: It's probably futile to criticize Big Chief Warren Riley now that he's the lamest of lame ducks with only 101 days to go before he's gone. But why pick on him when he seems perfectly capable of doing that himself?

A couple of weeks ago he displayed all the paranoia he is capable of when he asserted a cabal of "powerful" citizens were out to get him and make him look incompetent.

He even accused Councilwoman Stacey Head of sending out an email that used the "N" word with 2 "g"s in it. But being the super sleuth that he is, he was unable to produce the missive he seemed to know so much about.

Pundits--white and black alike--soon followed with columns that replied they were not trying to make him look bad, they were merely reporting the details of what he's done and hasn't done as police chief.

You can almost see Riley rolling the ball bearings around in his hand as he asks what happened to the strawberries.

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As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.com

Thom Kahler