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.