New Orleans crime rate could reach historic low this year

Violent crime in New Orleans is nearing the modern-low water mark set in 2019. That's according to new figures released by the NOPD and the Metropolitan Crime Commission. Will New Orleans see its homicide and non-fatal shooting rates dip below the 2019 mark this year?

Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche says it's possible.

"The goal is to beat 2019," Goyeneche said. "That's always the goal. One crime is one too many."

Goyeneche says the city has made a remarkable turnaround in crime over the last couple of years despite historic low numbers of police officers on the NOPD's force. He attributes that turnaround to a variety of policy changes made by NOPD Superintendents Michelle Woodfork and Anne Kirkpatrick, including stepped up traffic enforcement and gun enforcement.

"Those traffic stops, those misdemeanor gun stops, those drug stops result in people being arrested for felony offenses," Goyeneche said. "That's proactive policing. Before Michelle Woodfork got here, we were pretty much waiting for someone to dial 911 before police could be deployed, which means a crime was already committed."

Goyeneche also credits the newly-formed State Police Troop NOLA and the NOPD's partnership with Troop NOLA and federal officials for sending crime stats falling.

"You're starting to see a more coordinated approach to addressing crime that's being reflected in the declining crime rates that we've been enjoying," Goyeneche said.

Exhibit A, Goyeneche says, is last month's Operation Clean Sweep.

"They made 155 arrests in one month. They took several dozen weapons off the street, and about 10 of those weapons were fully automatic," Goyeneche said. "The 155 arrests that were made last month will be reflected in . . . we're already seeing the benefits of that in lower crime rates so far this month, and I think we can expect that trend in the months ahead."