Posted on 12/09/2005 3:53:35 AM PST by LouAvul
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The city has fired 60 police officers and suspended more than 25 others who didn't show up for duty in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the city's police chief said Thursday as officials worked their way through a long list of disciplinary hearings.
Most of the fired officers, 51 of them, were let go before the hearings began, Police Chief Warren Riley said.
The 228 officers now involved in the disciplinary hearings left New Orleans without permission in the days after the hurricane hit, the chief told The Associated Press in an interview.
"They did return. But they left without permission, and at a critical time like this, it's totally unacceptable," Riley said.
The hurricane hit on Aug. 29, leaving much of the city under water and in chaos. Looters broke into stores and homes, there were reports of shootings in the streets, and there were assaults inside the Superdome, where thousands of residents who were unable to evacuate rode out the storm.
Some of New Orleans' police officers were stranded in the flooding and unable to check in with their commanders, but others were accused of adding to the chaos.
For Riley, sworn in as police chief Nov. 28 following the resignation of Eddie Compass, getting the questions out of the way and scrubbing the department's image has become a priority.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
As another FReeper once posted, "all they need to figure out is how to hold down the control key when pressing delete."
Guess they did.
"228 officers now involved in the disciplinary hearings left New Orleans without permission in the days after the hurricane hit"
Wow
How about Beggin' Nagin?
Did he come back from Dallas yet?
Have these officers had the opportunity to unwind in Las Vegas yet? If not, will they receive a voucher to do so at a later date?
Have they proven that the police officers actually existed yet? Because 1/3 of the staff not showing up sounds like payroll fraud.
Some of the non-existant officers were probably the ones fired. Have to get them off the payroll somehow. The ones suspended were probably real officers.
I guess sooner or later they will get to the officers who drove off in Caddilacs and wanted to see womens breasts before rescuing them and those on videotape stealing Radio's. One day they might even find out who cashed the checks for people who didnt exist.
At $10 and hour, they could make more money at Burger King. Furthermore, workers are currently being paid $1,000 per house for demolition (a one day job for a 4 person crew). I wouldn't be surprised if the city is finding it difficult to recruit new officers and existing officers want to quit.
One day they might even find out who cashed the checks for people who didnt exist.
----I was wondering about that too. Shouldn't that be easy to trace? Just see who cashed them or who's account they were deposited in? I mean somebody had to have been doing it.
"......Shouldn't that be easy to trace?"
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Nah! All the records were destroyed in the flood, dontcha know.
Did they fire real officers, or just the imaginary ones?
While I see the importantance of police officers showing up for duty... Did they verify they were actually able to show up? I mean most of the city was underwater and the only way to move around was via boat or helicopter of which I doubt your average peace officer has.
Had the goobernor asked for assistance earlier maybe they would have had transport available.
I know there is rampant corruption in NO but these poor bastards don't have gills.
Are they going to fire the Mayor?Didn't he run to Dallas?
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