NOPD says progress made by new violent crime task force as crime spikes in New Orleans
At a press conference on Thursday, NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said the squad arrested eight suspects in a single day.
Author: Mike Perlstein / Eyewitness Investigator
Published: 5:52 PM CST December 17, 2020
Updated: 5:52 PM CST December 17, 2020
NEW ORLEANS — Amid a surge in killings, shootings and carjackings in New Orleans over the past year, the NOPD abruptly changed its crime-fighting tactics, eliminating localized district task forces.
In its place, the department formed a citywide crime-fighting squad known as the Violent Crime Abatement Investigation Team, or VCAIT. The unit, which includes the FBI and State Police, uses technology and intelligence-gathering to focus on repeat violent offenders.