Their situation is unimaginable.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/04/katrina.police.ap/index.html

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- There may be no better way to explain the desperation on the city's ravaged streets than this: In the past few days, two police officers took their own lives and dozens have turned in their badges.

New Orleans Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley on Sunday identified two officers who committed suicide as Sgt. Paul Accardo, the department's spokesman, and Patrolman Lawrence Celestine. He called both "outstanding cops" and friends.

"Both of them," he said, shaking his head slowly. "Used their own guns."

Several dozen of the city's 1,600 police officers have failed to report for duty, and some have turned in their badges.

Published reports put the number as high as 200, but Riley declined to comment on those figures, saying more than 100 officers may have been trapped in their own homes or unable to reach command centers.

"We just don't know," he said, standing outside a downtown command center set up in the driveway of Harrah's casino.

But a moment later, Riley motioned back in the direction where several dozen heavily armed officers milled around, eating and smoking. He said he didn't care -- not at the moment.

"We still have at least a thousand policemen out here trying to rescue people and take back the city. I don't know what's in their minds. I don't know what gives the others out here their adrenaline, what gives them their push."

On top of the burdens of law enforcement, officers have had to forage for food and water and even for places to relieve themselves.

"Our officers have been urinating and defecating in the basement of Harrah's Casino," Police Superintendent Eddie Compass said last week. "They have been going in stores to feed themselves."

They also have had to deal with personal losses.

"What's affected most of our officers is they don't know where their wives or kids are. They don't have homes. ... They don't have anything," Riley said.

That sentiment was echoed by Capt. Kevin Anderson, commander of the 8th District, which includes the fabled French Quarter.

"It hurts to the heart, but I don't have the luxury of dwelling on who's not here. "We'll welcome them back with open arms maybe someday. But that day ain't today."

Exhaustion was evident in the officers' faces and even their dress. Many were wearing T-shirts and blue jeans brought in by fellow officers.

"We're having to find clothes for some," Riley said. "The only reason I'm dressed in a uniform is that I didn't lose my house."

Some police who remained on the job expressed outrage that some of their fellow officers abandoned the city when it most needed law and order.

"This is our area," said one officer, who spoke on the condition that he not be identified because he feared retribution from commanders. "I was raised in this town. I'm not giving this city up. Police are turning in their badges and running away."

Officers also have struggled with the emotional impact of the devastation.

"The most stressing part is seeing the citizens we serve every day being treated like refugees," Riley said. "There were cops walking through the crowd at the convention center and people were coming up to beg for food. Not being able to help is a difficult thing. People were calling our names because we know them and to not be able to help, man, that's stressful."

I always thought most police departments had some sort of disaster planning in place for whatever localized problems they could expect.  Maybe stockpiling more guns/ammo than what everyone is carrying or giving them lockers to store an extra uniform, prepositioning equipment or something.  Even MRE's and water or something in place in case of long days of crowd control.

Living in a city that is 30 feet below sea level and bordered by a giant lake and the biggest river in North America, prone to hurricanes and flooding, disaster planning may have been a good idea.

It is terrible that two officers have taken their own lives and the conditions they are working under are dismal as hell. Somebody way up the chain of command dropped the ball hard on this one.  That city has been there hundreds of years and it has flooded before, this should not have been a complete suprise.

The horrible thing is that it wasn't a complete surprise. LA and NOLA have done disaster relief studies, scenerios concerning the breeching of the levies (sp?), they even had a plan drawn out. What normally happens happened. They did not hope for the best and planned for the worst. they took a "wait and see" position and it cost everybody big.

Watching everybody playing the blame game is sickining. All elvels of government failed on this one. A lot of the citizens don't take this kind of thing seriously because they see their officials NOt taking it seriously. During the pre-storm interview, the mayor seemed completely un-concerned. That attitude will carry.

At the end of all of this I'm sure thye'll find a handfull of patsies. Truthfully, a chitload of people should lose their jobs and maybe even face prosecution for negligence.

Bush should have been kicking people in the ass. While he doesn't personally make these plans, he is responsible for everything that occurs in the executive branch at the federal level. Just like the LA Governor has the final responsibility for all the SNAFU on the State level and the Maypr for the city.

Now, as usual, LEO, Fire and EMS personnel are having to pick up the slack and clean up the mess.

 sad stuff

We have been finding a few LA police cars around Houston in the last few days.  Some where stolen and some where driven here by police officers who later called up and quit, then told their agancy their popo car is in houston.    Also TOMBALL PD has a BOLO for a NOPD car who has been pulling people over.  

Heres a link showing what the NO PD pay is.  Higher than 15k, but not much.

www.policepay.net/neworleans/wage.htm

My hat's off to the officers who stay at their posts. That takes a lot of character considering the shit sandwich New Orleans is turning into.

Starting officers here make more than their LTs do, and we are less than a day's drive from there.

You really do get what you pay for.

Got a reply email from the FOP about the request from St. Charles Parish  for more officers. Literally the only manditory criteria listed is: 1. Show up with permission from our agency, 2. Bring your basic police equipment and duty gear, clothes, etc., 3. Bring food and water for at least 3-5 days. Other than that they would like the agencies who can to provide a squad car.

Gee, I wonder why they'd be short of squads.

I've forwarded this info to my Chief and have asked for permission to go. Don't know how the hell I'll get there if they don't provide a car and a gas card but, I'll try anyway.

The muster area is apparently a High School in the parish. I don't have the name on hand as I left the letter in my clip board back at the office. Probably better not to list the name of the school on a public forum anyway.

here's hoping I get an affirmative.

You have got to be kidding with those salaries?    Perhaps there is a ton of overtime or some other compensation arrangement?

Quoted: We have been finding a few LA police cars around Houston in the last few days.  Some where stolen and some where driven here by police officers who later called up and quit, then told their agancy their popo car is in houston.    Also TOMBALL PD has a BOLO for a NOPD car who has been pulling people over.

Any Officer who took their Department issued vehicle, or any other gear for that matter, out of state running from their duty (depriving other officers of resources) should be charged with theft or unauthorized use!

Damn it that pisses me off!

Quoted: Quoted: We have been finding a few LA police cars around Houston in the last few days.  Some where stolen and some where driven here by police officers who later called up and quit, then told their agancy their popo car is in houston.    Also TOMBALL PD has a BOLO for a NOPD car who has been pulling people over.   Any Officer who took their Department issued vehicle, or any other gear for that matter, out of state running from their duty (depriving other officers of resources) should be charged with theft or unauthorized use! Damn it that pisses me off!

We all hate the scumbags...especially those who call themselves Police...but remember...not all LEOs in N.N. have disgraced their badge....Most of those who are still serving honorably there need our support and assistance...and I've never turned down an "assist officer", ever...National FOP response needs to be initiated...what do you think?

The Chief of Police had a very inspiring news conference on CNN the other night.  Very impassioned, very to the point

Best point out of it was this.

Quit reporting on the cowards who ran and report on the heros who stayed.  Report about the officers who are risking their lives to do their job.  Quit giving air time to the pricks who want to be cops as long as they are safe and sound.

Quoted: Heres a link showing what the NO PD pay is.  Higher than 15k, but not much. www.policepay.net/neworleans/wage.htm

Damn, we start at their step four.