Louisiana Republican Governor Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency, citing a shortage of police officers.
Landry’s executive order Thursday removed limits on the number of new officers Louisiana sheriffs can hire and the department’s salary increases.
Landry, who previously worked in law enforcement, said police departments across the state are seeing employment at an all-time low, “resulting in increased crime and decreased public safety.” As of July, sheriff’s offices across the state were down 1,800 deputies, Landry said.
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Michael Lanazza, executive director of the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association, said in a written statement Friday that he “underscored the importance of the law enforcement profession and the state’s dire need to fill valuable front-line deputy positions.” I commend Governor Landry.”
Landry’s order removes restrictions placed by state law on employment and pay for a period of time after a gubernatorial election. Landry was elected last year and took office in January.
Republican Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry speaks in the House of Representatives on January 15, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Michael Johnson/The Advocate, via AP, Pool, File)
Government agencies across the country have experienced police shortages in recent years, with many law enforcement agencies struggling with low morale from the coronavirus pandemic and the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The attack was attributed to criticism of the police. Small towns in Maine, Texas, and Ohio have dismantled their police departments and handed over law enforcement duties to county sheriffs, neighboring towns, or state police.
A survey of nearly 200 police agencies by the Washington, D.C.-based think tank Police Executive Research Forum found that the number of police officer resignations in 2022 will be higher than in 2019, the year before the pandemic and Floyd’s killing. This was an increase of 47% compared to the previous year. The number of people leaving the company increased by 19%.
Landry’s order remains in effect until March 15th. Lawmakers will return to the state Capitol on Monday for a special session to address the crime.
“The executive order and the upcoming crime special session will ensure that our law enforcement officers are supported and can begin to restore law and order to our state,” Landry said.
Bills introduced ahead of the session include expanding the use of the death penalty, limiting parole eligibility, stiffening penalties for some crimes and making some juvenile court records public.
Landry, a former local police officer and sheriff’s deputy, has vowed in recent years to crack down on crime in Louisiana, which has one of the highest murder rates in the country. The issue is part of the governor’s platform, and he frequently pointed to New Orleans, which has received national attention for violent crime and will host the 2025 Super Bowl.
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Earlier this month, Landry presented his first proposed state budget, which includes tens of millions of dollars in additional funding for public safety. At least $32 million will fund a variety of state police initiatives, including an expanded police presence in New Orleans, across-the-board pay increases and an independent review of the department, the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate reports. Ta.
