Message from Superintendent Ronal Serpas

[Matt Patin]

As we approach our first 90 days together I wanted to share with you
some thoughts about our department and the direction we are going in.
In these last days I have witnessed tremendous effort by so many, and
I am very grateful for that effort. I look forward to our continued
focus and unrelenting attention to making a difference every day in
each of our individual efforts.


First, as we all know, the damage of the recent guilty pleas and
outstanding cases in federal court to the reputation and support in
the community of the NOPD is real and we must acknowledge that. Our
community, however, will continue to expect our most professional
performance, as do I. Simply put, the citizens of New Orleans and
this police department can and will have a positive and mutually
supportive relationship. But, given what has happened, we must and we
will make the first step in that direction. My expectations on this
topic are simple and straightforward, we must treat every person we
come in contact with the dignity and respect they deserve and we will
always build upon our base of support in the community. We can do
this with each contact we have, answering a CFS, a detective
conducting a follow up, a traffic stop, a pedestrian stop, even making
an arrest, we should treat and respect people as we would demand of
any professional we come in contact with in our personal life. I
would like you to begin thinking of the concept of “sell the
contact.” What this means simply is, every time you come in contact
with a member of our community or a guest of our city, no matter what
your assignment, take a few moments to explain who you are and what
you are doing. More often than not, this simple explanation will
lessen anxiety on everyone’s part, and leave the person you met with a
sense of why you do what you do. I can assure you this will go a long
way in garnering the support we must have from our community to do our
work. Support equals community participation; community participation
creates better information exchange; better information exchange
enables us to make informed decisions that result in a more effective
and efficient police department; an efficient and an effective police
department equals greater support – and the cycle continues.


Second, there can be no doubt that the current budget conditions we
face are significant and far reaching. As you may know, we have
already had to take dramatic steps at reducing our budget. I must
tell you that the immediate future will require tough choices. Please
know that the Mayor and I are not taking these decisions lightly –
but, we must deal with what we have inherited; simple truth, plain
fact. I can assure you that our employees’ safety and well being is
paramount in my mind as we work through the various scenarios that we
must consider. Equally, my thoughts, and yours, must also consider
the very people we protect and serve every day. In the end, we will
become a stronger department and our citizens will know we understand
our responsibility to manage the funds that are actually derived from
their taxes paid to the City of New Orleans.


Third, I am aware of the concerns and frustrations over the soon to be
effected changes in the take home fleet. Once again, I know that you
did not make the decisions that have us in the condition we are in;
likewise, I can assure you that the direction we are going in is
consistent with other governments in the nation. We must and will
comply with the new city policies regarding city vehicles. I have
charged the Bureau Chiefs to develop a vehicle management plan in
accordance with the new policies that will have the least possible
impact on the effective and efficient operation of our department.


Fourth, simply put, our crime fighting plan will be straightforward: a
combination of PROACTIVE and REACTIVE policing. PROACTIVE policing
includes self-initiated activity, warrant checks, warrant service,
pedestrian checks, vehicle checks, follow up from Crime Stoppers Hot
Line and other tips, responding to information developed in community
meetings, HIGHEST QUALITY ARREST, REPORTS and TESTIFYING to bring
convictions, and actively engaging the community in problem solving
and REACTIVE policing, responding to CFS demands. Note that the
PROACTIVE concept is listed first!


Clearly, life threatening CFS requires our immediate and most
efficient response in all cases. But we should remember that a CFS
means just that...we are already late as a crime or event has already
occurred. In other words, we are simply the fastest at being late if
our focus is on CFS response as our first priority, or our only
priority. It is our best service to seek to be proactive in every
minute of every day to work at impacting crime BEFORE it becomes a
CFS. It is my expectation that all Commanders throughout the
department will incorporate these principles into their daily
management and accountability strategies if they have not already done
so.


The New Orleans Police Department is a strong agency with nearly 1,900
employees. I stand, side by side, with those of you who come to work
every day to make the great differences we can to move our city and
department forward. Each one of you who contributes will make a
difference, and I look forward to the coming years and our ability to
serve with pride, dignity, respect and the support of our community.
My best wishes to you and yours!



Ronal W. Serpas
Superintendent of Police
New Orleans Police Department