Cities across Louisiana, including New Orleans, are raising concerns about the Municipal Police Employees Retirement System (MPERS) and its penalizing tactics that are harming local police departments, especially in smaller cities.
These issues, which are now garnering attention ahead of the legislative session, are forcing cities to address punitive fines and challenging policies that threaten their ability to function effectively.
First Issue: Fines for Police Department Reductions
One of the most pressing concerns is the fines imposed on cities for the reduction in police department size. New Orleans, in particular, is facing over $38 million in fines because the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) lost more than 50 officers for two consecutive years. Current law penalizes a drop of more than 50 officers in one year.
Moreover, a second penalty applies if a police department’s numbers drop below 40% of the previous year’s total. This regulation has resulted in significant financial penalties, especially for smaller cities like Turkey Creek, which went from six officers to three and was fined over $260,000. Other small towns, including Boyce, Jackson, Lutcher, Homer, and Franklin, have faced similar fines…