For Immediate Release
Contact: Luke Bolar
August 12, 2015
504-779-3771
In a letter today, Vitter urges Landrieu to establish a new State Police Troop in New Orleans paid for by local revenue and tourism industry pledges along with a much larger role for the State Police in training NOPD. Vitter also urges Landrieu to “focus on murders, not monuments.”
(Metairie, La.) – David Vitter today sent a letter to New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu stating the murder rate is primarily the responsibility of local leadership, not the federal government. The letter is in response to Mayor Landrieu’s recent comments in the press criticizing Vitter, saying he hasn’t delivered enough federal resources to local law enforcement agencies to fight crime.
In his letter, Vitter recommended that Mayor Landrieu actively push his proposal to establish a new State Police Troop in New Orleans paid for by local revenue and tourism industry pledges, along with a much larger role for the State Police in training NOPD. Vitter also urges Landrieu to “focus on murders, not monuments.”
A copy of Vitter’s letter from today is below.
“August 12, 2015
The Honorable Mitch J. Landrieu
1300 Perdido Street
New Orleans, LA 70112
Dear Mitch:
I was disappointed with your recent attacks against me in response to my comments to the State Troopers Association on the New Orleans murder epidemic.
New Orleans’ horrendous murder rate is not, primarily, the federal government’s responsibility; it’s yours. Still, the federal taxpayer has given New Orleans more aid per capita in the last ten years than to any other city in history because of Katrina, including major and unprecedented law enforcement funding.
I have two strong suggestions regarding the New Orleans murder crisis:
1) Please actively push my and others’ proposal to not just continue a State Police presence in New Orleans, but to establish a whole new State Police Troop there paid for by local revenue and tourism industry pledges, and a much larger role for the State Police in training NOPD.
2) For goodness sake, focus on murders, not monuments.
Sincerely,
David Vitter”
