Neighborhood security districts -- which tax residents of a particular area to cover the cost of patrols by off-duty cops or security guards -- have mushroomed across New Orleans in recent years. Nearly 30 of them are now in existence, and three more are on the ballot Tuesday.
The districts vary widely: Some charge a flat-parcel fee, while others charge a fee based on a property's assessed value. Some use off-duty police; others security guards. Oversight varies as well.
The districts are among the areas in the city with the lowest rates of violent crime, although it's hard to say whether the lower crime is a result of the patrols.
WWL-TV examined the phenomenon in a report Thursday night, and concluded that the combined budgets of the myriad districts, roughly $6 million, could pay for an additional 85 New Orleans police officers.
In a second report, WWL examined the NOPD's troop strength, noting that on many nights, as few as five officers in each of the department's eight districts are in a position to respond to calls for service. At times, the number is as low as three, the report said.
According to the report, the NOPD's current size -- about 1,260 officers -- is the smallest since 1973.
Source: http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/11/report_examines_the_profusion.html
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