New Orleans police started accepting applications Monday from former officers interested in working in the reserve unit. The move is aimed at backing up the department while it adds more full-time officers to the force depleted since Hurricane Katrina.
Reserve Commander Louie Dabdoub says there are about 75 reserve officers now on duty. That same number crammed into a conference room over the weekend to discuss coming back.
They wouldn’t get paid, but after averaging 24 hours a month, they could get lucrative paid-detail work. They all must have left the department on good terms.
One was Brian Frere. He left NOPD in 2004 after 14 years on the job. Coming back, he says, is a matter of integrity – not money.
“This city is in turmoil with the bunch of crime that we have here," Frere said. "And I feel as though coming back here with all of these police officers I have been friends with in the past, I think we can truly, truly make a big difference.”
Tony Jackson left in 2010 after 6 years. Since then he’s been driving trucks and working for FedEx. He ultimately wants to be back full time on the force.
“It’s in my blood. I miss it,” Jackson said.
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu stopped by to tell the applicants their service is needed to help stop violent crime.
“Now we need you. Your city needs you," Landrieu said. "Your country needs you and I need you to help make this department a really strong department.”
Landrieu says recruit training continues, but it takes time. He says there are now 1,100 officers on staff, and he wants another 400. Reserve applications are available on the department website.
