National Guard called in to patrol violent New Orleans

IN a scene reminiscent of the darkest days following Hurricane Katrina, a convoy of 100 armed National Guard military police troops rolled into New Orleans yesterday to patrol the streets following a surge in violent crime.

Patrols by about 100 guard members in the city’s hurricane-devastated and largely deserted neighbourhoods will free as many as 300 police officers to concentrate on crime in more heavily populated areas, officials said.

“We’re just trying to give a hand to the city of New Orleans,” said Lieutenant Melvin Edwards, 32, a civilian juvenile probation officer in Baton Rouge.

Lt Edwards, a member of the 239th Military Police Co, said he was called up on Monday, within hours of Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco’s announcement that troops would be sent.

The guard members were carrying M-16s and handguns and were dressed in full camouflage fatigues with armbands identifying them as military police.

As they arrived at the city’s Convention Centre in a convoy of about 75 Humvees and other military vehicles, they drew waves and thumbs-up signals from pedestrians and motorists.

Mayor Ray Nagin had called for the National Guard and state police on Monday, saying “we’ve had enough” after five teenagers were gunned down together on Saturday and a man was stabbed to death on Sunday. It was in the city’s deadliest attack in at least 11 years and police said it was apparently motivated by drugs or revenge.

“The situation is urgent,” Ms Blanco said.

“Things like this should never happen, and I am going to do all I can to stop it.”

In addition to the 100 National Guard MPs, 60 state police officers are expected to be sent to the city, Blanco’s office said. It is the first time soldiers were used for law enforcement in the US since the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Altogether, up to 300 guard members are expected to be stationed in the city.