New Orleans Independent Police Monitor Building Public Confidence

New Orleans Independent Police Monitor Building Public Confidence through Transparency, Accountability, & Fairness

OIPM’s Mission To improve police services to the community, citizen trust in the NOPD, and officer safety and working conditions.

What was the original motivation for police oversight IN NEW ORLEANS? COMMUNITY

Officer Involved Shooting, In Custody Death, Head Trauma, or Hospitalization Occurs Prepare Public Report of the Incident and the Quality of the Investigation Attend NOPD’s Use of Force Review Board to Monitor the NOPD’s Review and Response to the Incident OIPM Notified w/i 1 Hr of Incident Monitor Rolls Out to Incident Scene OIPM’s Critical Incident Response & Reviews Complete Review and Provide Feedback & Recommendations to NOPD Review of Investigation: Officer’s Tactics Each Shot Fired or Blow Struck Officer’s Articulated Reasons Actions taken by Supervisor Officer’s Complaint History Officer’s Use of Force History Monitor is Briefed by PIB’s Force Investigation Team (FIT) about Initial Facts of the Case Monitor May Observe Interviews & Watch any Video of the Incident.

Community Engagement and Recommendations • OIPM works with the NOPD Accountability Coalition, made up of over 30 community led organizations that seek to change for the better our criminal justice system. • The Coalition formed around Covid-19 policing, but has stayed together during this current time of change. • Sister Alison Mc. Crary has made recommendations about being community being able to better identify officers in “riot gear, ” which was difficult last week. Identification is critical for investigations and accountability. • The Brotherhood Roundtable, OPPRC, Katie Schwartzmann, ACLU, Mac. Arthur, NAACP, Take Em Down NOLA and more community voices

Use of Crowd Dispersal Weapons • Indiscriminate and Inaccurate and police should have prepared tactics and responses to address compliant versus noncompliant protestors • Weapons used by NOPD were not targeted and it harmed peaceful protestors – So the question is, was it out of proportion • Generally in dispersing crowds: – Requires some danger/criminal activity – Requires clear and communicated orders to disperse – Time to disperse

Use of Crowd Dispersal Weapons Warnings labels on these chemical weapons used at the protest: • This product can expose you to chemicals including Lead Salts and Hexavalent Chromium, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, and Lead Salts, which are known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Use of Crowd Dispersal Weapons • This product is to be used only by authorized and trained law enforcement, corrections, or military personnel, this product may cause serious injury or death to you or others. This product may cause serious damage to property. Handle, store and use with extreme care and caution. Use only as instructed.

A Call to Action • If you were on the CCC that night, we need to hear from you and we need any evidence that you have collected, including your injuries, photos, videos. • NOPD’s investigations have to be trustworthy, complete and unbiased. • And, NOPD has to look at how this was planned and what (with hindsight) could’ve been done better.

A Call to Action • We ask for City Council’s review and action on all crowd dispersal weapons and the policies regarding their usage. • Community representation and ability to vote on whether force is acceptable and misconduct is sustained. – Community-Led accountability

A Call to Action • “We’re always scrambling to get enough resources. Our Police Department by default serves as social worker, therapist, family counselor, career counselor. We don’t need the police to do that job anymore. It’s not working for communities of color. ” – Stacie Gilmore, City Council member for a largely Latino and African-American district in Denver

OIPM Complaint & Use of Force (UOF) Investigations Review • The OIPM received and submitted to the PIB eleven (11) complaints (and counting) regarding the protests on June 3 and have responded to multiple emails and calls regarding the incident from the concerned community. Common themes: – No warning and conflicting directives from the police on the bridge before the deployment of tear gas – The apparent escalation to additional projectiles with no warning – The endangerment of all individuals on the bridge, majority of which peaceful, without considering separate tactics where necessary – No medical assistance to those injured during the protest – Police creating an environment of chaos on the bridge instead of calmly and effectively directing the crowd • The OIPM is monitoring the pending Use of Force investigations from the protests

Complaint System • Fear of Retaliation – Working with PIB and PSAB to enhance NOPD’s policy and to help NOPD respond and intervene quicker in complaints of retaliation from the community and officers. • Report back on what OIPM finds out.

Contact Us • • 2714 Canal, Suite 201 New Orleans LA 70119 Phone: (504) 309 -9799 Email: policemonitor@nolaipm. gov Website: www. nolaipm. gov Facebook: facebook. com/nolaipm Twitter: twitter. com/nolaipm Resources: – www. nacole. org – http: //samuelwalker. net/