The FBI is sending two agents to work full time in the New Orleans Police Department, part of a massive effort to crack down on corruption and investigate possible civil rights violations.
Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas, in making the announcement Monday with federal officials, said he had requested the FBI presence, the
Times-Picayune reported.
“These two agents will work closely with us on systems of corruption, on civil rights investigations and to help in our in-service training programs,” Serpas said.
David Welker, special agent in charge of the FBI’s New Orleans division, said while the agents would be working with the police Public Integrity Bureau, the FBI was not taking over the internal affairs department.
“This relationship is not designed to make the FBI the NOPD's Big Brother,” Welker said.
New Orleans has a seen a series of high-profile cases in which police officers were accused of using excessive force.
Last month, five current or former officers were convicted of federal civil rights violations for killing two civilians as they crossed a bridge in search of help during Hurricane Katrina.
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