Cops Cleared WHAT?

[Lindaloo]

I can't believe those cops caught on video in Walmart were cleared.


Cops cleared of Katrina looting charge

Items compiled from Tribune news services
Published March 19, 2006


NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -- Four New Orleans police officers have been cleared of allegations they looted a Wal-Mart store after Hurricane Katrina, but each was suspended 10 days for not stopping civilians from ransacking the store, the Police Department said.

The probe stemmed from an MSNBC report that showed the officers filling a shopping cart with shoes, clothes and other items. When a reporter asked the officers what they were doing, one said, "Looking for looters" and turned her back.

Assistant Police Chief Marlon Defillo said the officers seen on the video had permission to take necessities for themselves and other officers.

[ROCK]

Yeah they had permission to take necessities. Key word there. From what I saw, they were taking anything but....

[Audrey2Katrina]

THIS is why this area has the reputation it does

These cops should've been FIRED and prosecuted. It's an outrage but in all honesty I can say not altogether surprising.

A2K

[Aquawind]

THIS is why this area has the reputation it does

These cops should've been FIRED and prosecuted. It's an outrage but in all honesty I can say not altogether surprising.

A2K

I hear ya!

Well Said..

Paul

[Pearl River]

I can guarantee you Wal-Mart gave them permission. My brother in law works for St Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office and the same thing was given to them. Take what you need. I didn't see that video, but I can only report as to what was allowed here and Wal-Mart did give St Tammany permission, along with a few other stores in Slidell.

[artist]

if I recall weren't they taking things like vcr's or such??? Don't think that would be a necessity

[alicia-w]

wow. i've heard that there's quite a bit of corruption in the New Orleans police department. i guess this sort of thing just makes that case.

[Audrey2Katrina]

I can guarantee you Wal-Mart gave them permission. My brother in law works for St Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office and the same thing was given to them. Take what you need. I didn't see that video, but I can only report as to what was allowed here and Wal-Mart did give St Tammany permission, along with a few other stores in Slidell.

Well in all honesty, I didn't see the video, and I can WELL understand them allowing them whatever they'd need for necessities. Did Wal-Mart give them carte-blanche to take anything they WANTED from the store? Just curious.

A2K

[vbhoutex]

If Walmat did indeed do that, then they need to step up and make it clear to the public that they did. Otherwise the impression that most everyone has of corrupt cops will remain. I am not going to pass judgement here, but what I saw in those carts were not necessities.

[LaPlaceFF]

Knowing where that store is....in Tchapatolous.....that is a newly built Wal-Mart

[Pearl River]

A2K wrote

Pearl River wrote:
I can guarantee you Wal-Mart gave them permission. My brother in law works for St Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office and the same thing was given to them. Take what you need. I didn't see that video, but I can only report as to what was allowed here and Wal-Mart did give St Tammany permission, along with a few other stores in Slidell.


Well in all honesty, I didn't see the video, and I can WELL understand them allowing them whatever they'd need for necessities. Did Wal-Mart give them carte-blanche to take anything they WANTED from the store? Just curious.

A2K

Slidell Wal-Mart did give the Sheriff's Office and Slidell P.D. carte-blanche.

[Lindaloo]

What else gets me is the fact they only received a 10 day suspension for not stopping looters! That right there was grounds for firing.

Necessities means food, water and stuff like that. NOT shoes, VCR's, TV's, etc. And the way that one cop was strutting her big behind like she did not have a care in the world was proof enough to me that they were there for themselves!

[Audrey2Katrina]

Slidell Wal-Mart did give the Sheriff's Office and Slidell P.D. carte-blanche.

Well in that case, I guess what happened in Slidell is nothing less than what Wal-Mart allowed; however much of the havoc I'd seen in the New Orleans area, including "looting" by cops is inexcusable. JMO

A2K

[vbhoutex]

What else gets me is the fact they only received a 10 day suspension for not stopping looters! That right there was grounds for firing.

Necessities means food, water and stuff like that. NOT shoes, VCR's, TV's, etc. And the way that one cop was strutting her big behind like she did not have a care in the world was proof enough to me that they were there for themselves!

I know exactly lwhich one you are talking about!! And ATTITUDE!!!!!! WHOOOEEEEE!!!!!

[Lindaloo]

LOL David!

[greeng13]

definitly attitude!

but really i think they looked like dress shoes that she was taking...



















and it was caught on film!!!!!

inexcusable...what a great example to set for future events that might unfold as such....

i could just see it now:

"I wasn't looting...look at what the cops in NO did!"

[TSmith274]

If it's the video I saw, they were taking shoes. Are shoes a necessity? I don't know... I'd guess we need to know if they needed shoes. But they weren't stopping the looters. They should have been fired. Legit or not... it's the perception that this gives the rest of the country that bothers me. We can't afford it.

[Jack8631]

I just wanted to thank everyone that have shared their stories. Scary stuff. I've been through the outer bands of Ivan and several others the past few years in Central Alabama, was in Panama City Beach when Isadore made CONUS landfall (which was nothing that far east except a small surge and some wind),and rode out a typhoon in Okinawa once..but nothing compared to what you folks have experienced.

[Audrey2Katrina]

it's the perception that this gives the rest of the country that bothers me. We can't afford it.

EXACTLY!!!

[LSU2001]

The story is that they were taking clothes and shoes and underwear, etc. not just for themselves but for other officers as well. The stories say that many officers had been on duty non-stop for about 2-3 days at that point and had not had a change of clothes. The were to take what was needed at the wal-mart whether permission was given or not. They had permission/orders from their superiors.
The main reason they were suspended was because of their attitude and for not stopping looters. However, none of the NOPD were stopping looters anywhere in the city from what I understand. The local papers/radio say that the key reason for the punishment was the attitude and the perception that the video gave the country.

I disagree with the way it was handled but I do tend to cut them some slack. They were in a disaster area, many cops had deserted, the streets were becoming more like a war zone than an American city and the ones that were left were trying to survive right along with everybody else. It is easy to respond to a video while sitting in judgement either far away or far after the event. You may have a different perspective had you been there. I was not their so I cannot judge the actions. I have heard many people on this board state 'YOu just cant tell what is going on by the videos/pictures" My question is this: Could this case be one where the camera and the reporter does not show the "whole story" I will leave ya'll to answer that one but for me. I simply cannot pass that judgement.
Tim