The New Orleans Police Department held a news conference Wednesday to address ongoing concerns regarding violent crime in the city.
Yesterday NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said that total crime across the city is down by 6 percent where violent crime is up by 29 percent. There have been 108 murders with a 58 percent solve rate. Auto theft is up by 17% for the year, total homicides are up by 19%, shooting deaths are up by 13% and carjackings are up by 82%. Non-fatal shootings are also up 73% compared to this time last year. Ferguson said there was a slight decrease in murders in June. Ferguson said NOPD has seen a significant decrease in recruitment. NOPD averaged 400 to 500 applicants a month prior to the murder of George Floyd, and is now seeing an average of 245 applicants a month.
