Told ya so: Apparently forming a company to manage private paid police details "ain't no hangin' crime" after all. After all the hullabaloo over 9 NOPD officers who did, the punishment meted out Tuesday (8.2.11) by Super Chief Ronal Serpas: 3 days unpaid leave.
It's not illegal for a cop to form a company (whether a corporation or limited liability company); and it's not illegal for cops to work paid private details.
So what's the problem? These officers weren't sticking up liquor stores; they weren't roughing up bouncers; they weren't beating up their girlfriends. The problem is, Serpas says, is the NOPD has a long-standing policy that prevents officers from forming a company to hire out off-duty officers for private functions.
For all the good he's done in the year he's been chief, and for as smart as he is as attested by his Ph.D, Serpas needs to refine his management skills.
It's hard to understand how or why the NOPD came up with this arcane rule. The NOPD didn't say officers couldn't coordinate paid details; it just said they couldn't form a company to do it. And yet, it makes all the sense in the world to form a company which can formally hire officers, monitor their assignments, collect payments from private interests using their services, write checks to officers performing the services, withholding income taxes and Social Security, etc.
You tell me which way is more honest and efficient. Better yet, tell Super Serpas and Mayor Mitch.
Double on Bourbon: A pair of black punks, apparently not satisfied with their haul from their first robbery Sunday (7.31.11) night in the 1300 block of Bourbon Street stuck again an hour later in the same block.
Detectives interviewing the tourists had not had time to order patrol cars to flood the area before being notified of the second robbery at 11:10 p.m. near Barracks Street. The victims, 2 white guys, 24 and 26, and a white woman 27, went down a block to the Port of Call restaurant on Esplanade at Dauphine Street, to report they had been robbed.
According to Sgt. Nick Gernon, head of the 8th District's detectives assigned to crimes against persons, said some neighbors have already contacted the NOPD with information about suspicious characters they saw that night, adding "It is typically information which we receive from the community which leads to these types of cases being solved." He's assigned one of his top detectives, Tindell Murdock, to the case.
Other than that: Pursesnatchers are still out there lurking--and not all in the wee hours:
Among those suspended was Cmdr. Edwin Hosli, former commander of the 8th District, who had been booted May 5 by Mayor Mitch Landrieu for 120 days before any charges had been investigated. Talk about a rush to judgment--it looks like the city owes Hosli a load of back pay thanks to Mitch's impetuousness.
It's not illegal for a cop to form a company (whether a corporation or limited liability company); and it's not illegal for cops to work paid private details.
Many more officers than these 9 have formed companies for one reason or another. (In fact, Serpas' newly appointed deputy chief, Darryl Albert, formed DASA Team Services LLC last fall for whatever reason about the same time Hosli formed his corporation, which Albert did details for.)
So what's the problem? These officers weren't sticking up liquor stores; they weren't roughing up bouncers; they weren't beating up their girlfriends. The problem is, Serpas says, is the NOPD has a long-standing policy that prevents officers from forming a company to hire out off-duty officers for private functions.
Serpas should know. When Serpas was here before, as a major, he and Harry Mendoza, then a sergeant, got in hot water for forming a company called "Police Officers Detail Services Inc." in 1993. Each was suspended for 5 days. This time it is Serpas handing out the punishment; Mendoza, now a captain, was one of the 9 disciplined.
For all the good he's done in the year he's been chief, and for as smart as he is as attested by his Ph.D, Serpas needs to refine his management skills.
He blew it this time in calling out 9 officers for an obviously minor infraction (maximum penalty 3 days of unpaid leave), besmirching the reputations of some of the best officers on the force. Wouldn't it have made better sense to just call these cops in and say, "Hey, men we're no longer going to tolerate this violation of department rules--so if you've got a company that's running details, discard it now."
It's hard to understand how or why the NOPD came up with this arcane rule. The NOPD didn't say officers couldn't coordinate paid details; it just said they couldn't form a company to do it. And yet, it makes all the sense in the world to form a company which can formally hire officers, monitor their assignments, collect payments from private interests using their services, write checks to officers performing the services, withholding income taxes and Social Security, etc.
Isn't that more efficient and business-like than the way in days gone by: "Hey, Sergeant, I need somebody to work the door at my party tomorrow night." The sergeant replies, "Give me $300 bucks and I'll send somebody by." The money passes under the table, never touched by the taxman, and the officer who does door duty gets a share of it.
You tell me which way is more honest and efficient. Better yet, tell Super Serpas and Mayor Mitch.
Double on Bourbon: A pair of black punks, apparently not satisfied with their haul from their first robbery Sunday (7.31.11) night in the 1300 block of Bourbon Street stuck again an hour later in the same block.
In the first robbery, they pulled a pistol on a white tourists from New Zealand, he 47 and she 44, near Esplanade Avenue around 10:15 p.m. They gave up their money and cellphone, and had to make it back 3 blocks to their hotel at Frenchmen Street and Esplanade before calling the cops.
Detectives interviewing the tourists had not had time to order patrol cars to flood the area before being notified of the second robbery at 11:10 p.m. near Barracks Street. The victims, 2 white guys, 24 and 26, and a white woman 27, went down a block to the Port of Call restaurant on Esplanade at Dauphine Street, to report they had been robbed.
Police believe the same 2 suspects, who fled on Barracks toward N. Rampart Street after the second robbery, are responsible for both robberies. They were both described as 5'10" tall, one weighing 160 to 170 pounds, wearing a red T-shirt and dark pants, and the other weighing 150 to 160 pounds, wearing a dark-colored shirt.
According to Sgt. Nick Gernon, head of the 8th District's detectives assigned to crimes against persons, said some neighbors have already contacted the NOPD with information about suspicious characters they saw that night, adding "It is typically information which we receive from the community which leads to these types of cases being solved." He's assigned one of his top detectives, Tindell Murdock, to the case.
Other than that: Pursesnatchers are still out there lurking--and not all in the wee hours:
- Thursday (7.27.11) 8:20 p.m.: A 34-year-old black woman was getting into her car on Burgundy Street near Bienville Street when a white thug grabbed her purse off her shoulder and fled on foot down Bienville toward N. Rampart Street.
He was described as 6' tall, weighing 170 pounds, wearing a white T-shirt and dark-colored jeans.
- Wednesday (8.3.11) 3:00 a.m.: Two white women, 36 and 42, were walking on Decatur Street near Conti Street when 2 black guys rushed up and snatched the purses from the ladies' shoulders. They fled on foot down Conti toward N. Rampart.
Both were described as in their 20s, with medium builds and short hair, one wearing a red shirt and blue jeans, the other wearing a yellow or orange shirt and light-colored shorts.
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Crimes last week in the 8th District
Sunday (7.24.11)
Crimes last week in the 8th District
Sunday (7.24.11)
Armed Robbery, 900 St Ann, 12:32 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 700 St Louis, 1:16 a.m.
Theft, 216 Bourbon, 2:20 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 1800 Dauphine, 3:45 a.m.
Theft, 555 Canal, 10:32 a.m.
Theft, 201 Baronne, 12:54 p.m.
Auto Theft, Decatur & Esplanade, 5:42 p.m.
Armed Robbery, 1800 Burgundy, 6:18 p.m.
Monday (7.25.11)Simple Robbery, 700 St Louis, 1:16 a.m.
Theft, 216 Bourbon, 2:20 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 1800 Dauphine, 3:45 a.m.
Theft, 555 Canal, 10:32 a.m.
Theft, 201 Baronne, 12:54 p.m.
Auto Theft, Decatur & Esplanade, 5:42 p.m.
Armed Robbery, 1800 Burgundy, 6:18 p.m.
Theft, 532 Frenchmen, 1:15 a.m.
Shoplifting, 444 Canal, 2:07 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1012 St Philip St, 9:50 a.m.
Theft, 214 Royal St, 10:46 a.m.
Business Burglary, 408 Magazine St, 3:17 p.m.
Tuesday (7.26.11)Shoplifting, 444 Canal, 2:07 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1012 St Philip St, 9:50 a.m.
Theft, 214 Royal St, 10:46 a.m.
Business Burglary, 408 Magazine St, 3:17 p.m.
Theft, 241 Bourbon St, 12:33 a.m.
Theft, 1000 Bienville St, 3:51 a.m.
Theft, 650 Gravier St, 9:24 a.m.
Theft, 300 Gravier St, 1:53 p.m.
Auto Theft, Convention Center & St Joseph, 5:44 p.m.
Theft, 315 Magazine St, 10:20 p.m.
Wednesday (7.27.11)Theft, 1000 Bienville St, 3:51 a.m.
Theft, 650 Gravier St, 9:24 a.m.
Theft, 300 Gravier St, 1:53 p.m.
Auto Theft, Convention Center & St Joseph, 5:44 p.m.
Theft, 315 Magazine St, 10:20 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 555 Canal St, 2:14 a.m.
Theft, 900 Bourbon St, 4:45 a.m.
Burglary, 1009 Poydras St, 6:18 a.m.
Auto Theft, Fulton & St Joseph St, 8:11 a.m.
Auto Theft, Bienville & Clinton St, 7:52 p.m.
Thursday (7.28.11)Theft, 900 Bourbon St, 4:45 a.m.
Burglary, 1009 Poydras St, 6:18 a.m.
Auto Theft, Fulton & St Joseph St, 8:11 a.m.
Auto Theft, Bienville & Clinton St, 7:52 p.m.
Theft, 600 Girod St, 5:02 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Burgundy & Iberville St, 8:38 a.m.
Auto Theft, Bourbon & St Ann, 11:07 a.m.
Rape, 400 Burgundy St, 11:44 a.m.
Theft, 800 Decatur St, 1:09 p.m.
Theft, 400 Bourbon St, 2:11 p.m.
Theft, 816 Decatur St, 3:12 p.m.
Shoplifting, 717 Canal St, 6:35 p.m.
Pursesnatching, 200 Burgundy St, 8:49 p.m.
Friday (7.29.11)Auto Burglary, Burgundy & Iberville St, 8:38 a.m.
Auto Theft, Bourbon & St Ann, 11:07 a.m.
Rape, 400 Burgundy St, 11:44 a.m.
Theft, 800 Decatur St, 1:09 p.m.
Theft, 400 Bourbon St, 2:11 p.m.
Theft, 816 Decatur St, 3:12 p.m.
Shoplifting, 717 Canal St, 6:35 p.m.
Pursesnatching, 200 Burgundy St, 8:49 p.m.
Shoplifting, 134 Royal St, 6:13 p.m.
Theft, 601 Iberville St, 6:20 p.m.
Shoplifting, 400 N Peters St, 8:21 p.m.
Saturday (7.30.11)Theft, 601 Iberville St, 6:20 p.m.
Shoplifting, 400 N Peters St, 8:21 p.m.
Theft, 201 Baronne St, 1:38 a.m.
Auto Theft, 200 N Diamond St, 2:03 a.m.
Theft, 334 O'Keefe Ave, 3:17 a.m.
Aggravated Battery, 2100 Chartres St, 3:42 a.m.
Business Burglary, 941 Decatur St, 4:21 a.m.
Auto Theft, Burgundy & Toulouse St, 6:30 a.m.
Theft, 859 Convention Center, 9:46 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1000 Iberville St, 11:38 a.m.
Residence Burglary, 513 Toulouse St, 5:53 p.m.
Auto Theft, 200 N Diamond St, 2:03 a.m.
Theft, 334 O'Keefe Ave, 3:17 a.m.
Aggravated Battery, 2100 Chartres St, 3:42 a.m.
Business Burglary, 941 Decatur St, 4:21 a.m.
Auto Theft, Burgundy & Toulouse St, 6:30 a.m.
Theft, 859 Convention Center, 9:46 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1000 Iberville St, 11:38 a.m.
Residence Burglary, 513 Toulouse St, 5:53 p.m.
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As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.comThom Kahler
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