NEW ORLEANS—The ACLU of Louisiana has issued the following statement in response to U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan’s ruling to initiate the sustainment period for the New Orleans Police Department’s (NOPD) consent decree. This decision marks the beginning of a two-year exit strategy from federal oversight of the NOPD. The ACLU of Louisiana Executive Director Alanah Odoms shares the following statement:
“As the NOPD enters a two-year sustainment period, the ACLU of Louisiana will be watching closely to ensure the department remains committed to the reforms outlined in the consent decree. Data publicly reported by the NOPD shows that the percentage of use-of-force incidents per arrest surged from 3.3% in 2016 to 7.4% in recent years. Alarmingly, from 2016 through 2023, Black residents accounted for over 80% of use-of-force incidents, despite comprising only 57% of New Orleans’ population, according to the 2020 census. These statistics highlight the ongoing need for vigilant oversight and community monitoring during the sustainment period.
Before Judge Morgan’s ruling, the Department of Justice (DOJ)—the agency responsible for overseeing the NOPD—acknowledged that the department has not yet reached ‘substantial compliance’ with the consent decree’s requirements. The consent decree was originally implemented to address widespread unconstitutional practices, racial profiling, and corruption within the NOPD. This sustainment period must ensure these critical issues are fully resolved.
We commend the judiciary for maintaining independence in this ruling, carefully considering the first-hand accounts of the DOJ, the NOPD, and public comments from citizens. This decision stands in contrast to the overreach by Attorney General Liz Murrill, who intervened to represent the city of New Orleans and called for an abrupt end to the consent decree. Attorney General Murrill’s claim that the decree is ‘detrimental to the central mission of the NOPD’ is deeply concerning. For the people of New Orleans, bias-free policing is, and must remain, central to the NOPD’s mission.”
