re: 2 killed, 3 wounded outside Mid-City event space: NOPD

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different incident. Was at Finns as well.

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I have sent this to the below personnel. I hope it answers some questions about what happened this morning. As usual Officers were present in this area. My commitment to your neighborhood stands and while we cannot prevent all crimes, we can stand together and shut down these magnets and dens of future violence. I will need your assistance in doing this. The outcome and future of this area depends on the assistance afforded not only by the Police and Community Groups but all city agencies. and elected members.

I will be at the meeting on Monday at 7pm

To Councilwoman Guidry and Councilwoman Cantrell, and to all concerned:

Let me begin by saying the tragic events that occurred early this morning not only take a emotional toll on the neighborhood residents and businesses, but also on the First District Police personnel and the NOPD leadership and we are all deeply disturbed by this senseless violence. We have to remember that the only way to be effective in attacking these problems is to work together: meaning the community, business leaders, City agencies, NOPD and the neighborhood security forces and to ensure there is clear, precise communication.

In researching the moments prior to the outbreak of violence last night, there was only one call placed to the NOPD of loud music at 7pm at 533 S. Cortez and according to the NOPD Command Desk, there were no calls of large gatherings or loud music at that location for the entire day. First District Units and Mid City Units assigned to this zone were the ones who observed the large crowds in front of the Mid City Events Center and relayed the information to their supervisors, to send additional units to help break up the large crowd. The Officers never had a chance to break up the crowd as the shooting happened a very short time later and they responded within a minute of the incident.

Past and present efforts in the Tulane corridor include:

After the homicide a few months ago, the First District made a commitment to provide increased police presence in this area and we have not waivered, even with other neighborhood groups' demands for this sort of deployment. The residents, and members of the Mid City Neighborhood Association and Tulane Banks Neighborhood Association, such as, Roux Merlo, Jim Olsen, Patrick Armstrong, Emily Leitzinger and Mallory Leblanc can all attest to our presence, commitment and efforts in this area.

During our time here over the last few months, The Ulloa Playhouse and Car Wash, which were habitual problems in the past have not had any violent incidents or narcotics violations since our deployment.

We have also met and had numerous phone conversations with Dan McNamara and Erica Delarge of the City Attorney's Office, who are researching ways in which we can address these problematic businesses. The two businesses presented a unique problem for them because these two businesses don't have Alcohol licenses. Their assistance will be most valuable in the coming days ahead.


Going Forward:

1. Our strategy will be to continue and also increase the Police presence in the Tulane Corridor and to provide additional First District Overtime to this area in order to supplement the units already assigned to this zone.

2. Meet with the Mid City Neighborhood Association, as well as, the Tulane Banks Neighborhood Association leadership to determine the best course of action to assist each other. We certainly welcome the Councilmembers presence and their neighborhood community engagement team's participation at any planned meetings to offer any guidance or point out any issues that we may have overlooked or not thought of or addressed.

3. Continue to address the problematic Ulloa Playhouse and Car wash and now the Mid City Events Center. We will meet with the City Attorney again specifically about this Event Hall. Hopefully, the Neighborhood Business Associations are able to address the owners of this business and hold them accountable for their transgressions and the effect they are having to the immediate area.

As always, I am open to all suggestions that can help us achieve our goals together. Please feel free to contact me with any ideas.

Respectfully,
Hans Ganthier
Commander, First District
New Orleans Police Department

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