Letter from the Chief Operating Officer
Since our inception in 1995, the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation has grown and evolved to fit the needs of the criminal justice system and the community. Because of our rapid growth and taking on many new areas of responsibility, we feel that it is important to inform the community of where we are and what we are doing. Thus, it is with great pleasure that I present to you this inaugural NOPJF Behind the Badge newsletter. Through Behind the Badge, we intend to update you quarterly on NOPJF events, projects, and reform efforts. We want to shine a light on the innovative projects and initiatives being implemented throughout the justice system, because so often all we here on the news is negative. We also want to share with you the collaborative projects we are sponsoring in the community on the prevention side- because we realize that the police alone will never solve our crime problem- it takes the whole community. Finally, we want to inform you of the key needs of the criminal justice system moving forward. Most of all, we want you to be involved and feel a part of our efforts, because without your support the remarkable achievements we have made over the last years would not have been possible. The NOPJF’s mission is to make New Orleans a safer place to work, live and visit. To achieve that mission, we all must “get behind the badge” and be a part of the fight against crime. Thank you for your past and continued support.
Sincerely,
Heidi J. Unter, PhD
NOPD Out to Catch New Recruits
The New Orleans Police Department is looking for some 200 new officers and is using a multi-media promotional blitz to make their case.
The media campaign, which began in early May, encourages qualified men and women to “get behind the badge” and do something important for their community. The NOPJF contracted with the City of New Orleans and State of Louisiana to administer the $1 million campaign grant. Private entities including Harrah’s Foundation and the New Orleans Tourism and Marketing Corp. also contributed to funding for the campaign.
“Police recruitment and retention are of the utmost importance to policing our city,” said Warren Riley, NOPD Superintendent. “We hope the media campaign will not only attract new officers, but also illustrate our commitment and encourage the community to respect the job they are doing.”
Riley said NOPD is now the best outfitted police department in the state, thanks to a $6.6 million state grant earmarked for crime fighting equipment that replaced items lost in Katrina such as patrol cars, uniforms, weapons, and safety gear. The city council also provided significant pay raises for new starting police officers, making low pay no longer a barrier to considering a law enforcement career.
Television will run in the New Orleans market, while radio and billboards will be placed in both New Orleans and regionally. The online component will be targeted to males aged 20 to 34, specifically those who are ex-military or would consider lateral transfers from other divisions of law enforcement.
