In a past PolitiDose commentary dated 1/3/2024 the story was told how the murder rate in New Orleans for the year 2023 was down 27% from 2022 when it hit 266, it was 193 in 2023. That reduction in the murder rate and other crime events started the improvement that has continued into 2026. The commentary touches upon some of the reasons for the good news.
The commentary also noted that Louisiana's GOP would try and take credit for the improvement like they always try and do when anything positive takes place on the democratic watch. And guess what? That is what has taken place in a Times Picayune article concerning "your's view" dated 1/14/2026 by Louisiana State Police Superintendent Robert P. Hodges titled, "Troop Nola proved naysayer's wrong."
Hodges starts his article by saying, "for years violent crime in New Orleans was seen as unavoidable." A really silly and unprofessional statement that has no justification coming from such a high ranking State Trooper. He goes on to tell us about how Governor Jeff Landry created Troop Nola two years ago (which would be around July 2024) He then goes on to tell how well the murder rate and other crimes have dropped dramatically in 2024 to the present day.
Never once did Hodges mention the good news of the decline in the murder rates and other crimes started its downward trend in 2023. That was long before Landry became Governor, long before he created Troop Nola, long before he created a crime commission and even before he started to work with the City's officials.
PolitiDose commentary of January 3,2024 also noted how the New Orleans police department was working with the federal government's ATF division that took hundreds of firearms off the street of New Orleans with their coordinated working arrangement. Common sense tells us anytime you can take hundreds of firearms off the streets there will be less gun violence and deaths.
All parts of law enforcement have to work together to keep our city and state safe. The city has taken the proper steps in facing the problem with others and the united work is finding results. So let us recognize the true picture and facts of how the city is where it is today. And let us remember and understand the work must continue to go on every day and that consistent good policing is an obligation.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
