Troop NOLA may bring with them several advantages beyond just man power. For instance, they are not bound by the New Orleans consent decree.
And also have resources that could be game changer in the fight against crime.
“State police [for instance] have direct access to a lab owned by the state that conducts narcotic and DNA testing.”
So, it would seem that Troop NOLA would have a little more breathing room over how they conduct enforcement in the city.
Along with more boots on the ground, Troop NOLA and NOPD will have the State’s Attorney General’s Office assisting on the prosecutorial side of the law. And Serpas says their capacity for case load is invaluable.
“The Attorney General will be able to accept more cases for a lot of reasons. It appears the office is hiring several, very experienced prosecutors and that is another positive.”
The Troop NOLA deployment is separate from the state police that normally assist during Mardi Gras. Troop NOLA deploys to New Orleans in March.