A Pause In the Violence
Longest stretch of the year without a murder
The Metropolitan Crime Commission reports a quieter couple of weeks in New Orleans, comparatively so…
Crime and violence remain significantly worse compared to 2019, but better when set aside 2022.
As of December 17, 2023:
Homicide Victims: 214
Despite one homicide last week, our YTD total of 214 victims is -20% lower than 2022.
Homicide in 2023 remains higher relative to 2019 (+84%), 2020 (+25%), and 2021 (+5%).
The homicide total includes eleven victims of vehicular homicide, five negligent, and approximately six which may ultimately be deemed as justified by the DA’s office. These will not be counted as “murders” by NOPD.
Nonfatal Shooting Incidents: 350
Since 2022, nonfatal shooting incidents have declined -24%.
There have been approximately 471 victims of nonfatal gunshot incidents in 2023.
At the same time in 2022, there had been 458 shooting incidents and approximately 609 nonfatal shooting victims (an overall reduction of –23% in fatal/nonfatal shooting victims and a reduction of –25% in fatal/ nonfatal shooting incidents).
Carjacking Incidents: 145
There were 3 carjacking incidents last week, including one in which a victim was shot – however, we remain -46% lower than 2021-2022, and -35% lower than 2020.
As we have seen during most of 2023, the carjacking reduction coincides with a large (+69%) increase in auto theft (as of December 17, 2022, 4,074 auto thefts vs. 6,892 in 2023).
Armed Robbery Incidents: 347
Armed robbery is -34% lower than this time in 2022 and -16% lower than the same time in 2019.
This is the only category of major violent crime showing reductions compared with the past 4 years.
In 2022, there were 4,074 reported auto thefts as of December 17th.
There have been at least 6,892 reported auto thefts to date in 2023, an increase of 69% since 2022.
This is an average of 20 stolen cars per day and 135 cars per week.
There’s a plan in the works to elevate state police presence downtown!
Here’s the gist from The Advocate/nola.com…
Three years after Louisiana State Police quietly pulled out of New Orleans, disbanding a specially funded unit that had stood watch in the French Quarter since 2014, a return of troopers in force appears close at hand.
Gov.-elect Jeff Landry, who pledged on the campaign trail to address rampant crime in New Orleans, hinted last month at plans to surge troopers in the city as he touted a deal with Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams for the attorney general’s office to prosecute State Police arrests within the city limits.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell at her state of the city address on Wednesday gave a shoutout to state troopers, partially crediting their partnership with an understaffed New Orleans Police Department for a 21% decline in violent crime. Last week, New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick told business and civic leaders that Landry “is looking at giving us another full-time troop here in New Orleans.”
The Police Department has yet to confirm any details, saying only that Kirkpatrick has spoken with State Police officials about assigning troopers to New Orleans but it remains "in the initial discussion phase with state government." A State Police spokesperson said that along with Landry and New Orleans police, the agency "will review and implement operational plans throughout Orleans Parish after the beginning of the year.”
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