NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison will highlight the department's community-oriented policing strategies and de-escalation training programs in place at a House Judiciary Committee meeting this afternoon (Oct. 19). The NOPD is one of several law enforcement agencies from across the state invited to participate in the discussion.

The purpose of the meeting is for legislators to review and evaluate law enforcement training and de-escalation techniques, to discuss the feasibility of community-oriented policing strategies with a focus on the safety of both police and the public, and to discuss community partnerships with law enforcement that can enhance respect for law enforcement in the communities they police.

NOPD focused on strong training and community engagement

In September, the NOPD delivered on a commitment to train 20 percent of patrol officers in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training by fall 2016. CIT is a nationally recognized ‘best practices’ approach in recognizing and managing behavior that may be attributable to a mental health disorder. The training is one of several types of de-escalation training that officers receive on the job. 

And last week, dozens of New Orleans residents attended the department's first-ever "Community Engagement Night Out." The meetings, which were held in all eight police district, gave residents an opportunity to identify and prioritize the top public safety concerns in their neighborhoods.