31–40 of 49 posts
However this is an interesting example of how it might be advantageous to have multiple service providers competing in a market that try to be more efficient and provide more for less money.
Maybe there should always be multiple police forces that compete in the same market. It might help get rid of violent cops who driving down the services reviews :-)
"...Torres’s squad, the French Quarter Task Force, which at all hours had three armed officers zigzagging the neighborhood in matte black Polaris Rangers that resemble militarized golf carts." "Torres also became involved in setting policy. Earlier that week, his force had coordinated with the N.O.P.D. in two huge arrest sweeps of so-called transients, whose familiar panhandling presence in the neighborhood (ragged c…
This is not vigilante justice. These are off duty police officers working as an officially sanctioned part of the local government, which is obviously failing to get the job done. A vigilante would shoot the malefactors on the spot, but these officers are arresting the individuals in cooperation with the nopd and their cases are adjudicated like any others. I don't see any problem with someone who has skin in the gam…
Are armed off-duty police officers working a second job allowed to use their own municipally-provided sidearms, or must they purchase and use their own? I assume the latter, unless all police officers might be asked to purchase and register their own sidearms for use on- and off-duty.
I worked in the Quarter for the better part of two years. The criminals are criminals; the transients are part of the character of the area. Where else in the world do you have a mix of movie stars and millionaires living alongside musicians and artists working hard to survive? As hard as he tries, the Quarter is still in New Orleans. White washing it may make it more appealing to moneyed types and tourists, but it c…
I still live here, and I'm sick of the "Crime is part of the character" narrative. The Quarter, Marigny, Bywater, and Treme can have plenty of character without the risk of getting mugged biking home from work.
It's hard to ignore that in the deep south white people are afforded enormous privilege in many ways. And these gutter punks (transients) are overwhelmingly white, young, able bodied.
I wish they all go home to their white privileged families.
"...Torres’s squad, the French Quarter Task Force, which at all hours had three armed officers zigzagging the neighborhood in matte black Polaris Rangers that resemble militarized golf carts." "Torres also became involved in setting policy. Earlier that week, his force had coordinated with the N.O.P.D. in two huge arrest sweeps of so-called transients, whose familiar panhandling presence in the neighborhood (ragged c…
The French Quarter may be fun and exciting when you're with a group of people but finding yourself on one of the many side-streets and without a crowd of people can be scary.
I remember in 2005 I got my first iPod. The first thing I did was replace the white headphones with black headphones so nobody would know I actually had something worth stealing. I vacationed in New York for the first time that year and was absolutely amazed by how safe and comforting the place was.
There's this long running extortion con people like to play on tourist. It goes like this...
"I bet you a dollar I know where you got your shoes"
"Yeah?"
"You got your shoes on your feet walking down St. Peter street."
"Now....Give me that dollar."
At 4:00 in the afternoon you just give the dollar or just walk away. Maybe at 9:00 PM street is empty and there's only you and your friend. He's insistent. He's not going to have change. You're reaching into your purse.
This same con has been going on since the 1980's and nobody seems to do anything about it. I don't want people coming to my city and having the experience I just described.
And please note I'm making no commentary on the task force. I'm just making notes on the current situation.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is not vigilante justice. These are off duty police officers working as an officially sanctioned part of the local government, which is obviously failing to get the job done. A vigilante would shoot the malefactors on the spot, but these officers are arresting the individuals in cooperation with the nopd and their cases are adjudicated like any others. I don't see any problem with someone who has skin in the gam…
All good points you raise. I think what really bothers me about this private police force is the fact that they act so specifically to the will of one man, rather than as a public unit that is funded by the people and administered effectively to serve the people. I would applaud his actions if he was a publicly elected official. Giuliani and the NYPD did a great job in NY. It just rubs me the wrong way that this man…
"...Torres’s squad, the French Quarter Task Force, which at all hours had three armed officers zigzagging the neighborhood in matte black Polaris Rangers that resemble militarized golf carts." "Torres also became involved in setting policy. Earlier that week, his force had coordinated with the N.O.P.D. in two huge arrest sweeps of so-called transients, whose familiar panhandling presence in the neighborhood (ragged c…
Two words: New Orleans
[deleted]
There is a historical precedent for corporation-backed security forces in the US. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_union_busting_in_th...
Anyone taking bets on how long it takes for this guy to get into a dispute with a neighbor and he starts exerting influence through his private police force.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is not vigilante justice. These are off duty police officers working as an officially sanctioned part of the local government, which is obviously failing to get the job done. A vigilante would shoot the malefactors on the spot, but these officers are arresting the individuals in cooperation with the nopd and their cases are adjudicated like any others. I don't see any problem with someone who has skin in the gam…
I don't see any problem with someone who has skin in the game and who is passionate getting involved [...] The fact that he is rich and politically connected makes him that much more able to tackle the problem. One traditional hazard is when the people with the power to solve problems solve them for themselves but not for everyone, so they lose their skin in the game before they finish the job properly. An example: *…
"...Torres’s squad, the French Quarter Task Force, which at all hours had three armed officers zigzagging the neighborhood in matte black Polaris Rangers that resemble militarized golf carts." "Torres also became involved in setting policy. Earlier that week, his force had coordinated with the N.O.P.D. in two huge arrest sweeps of so-called transients, whose familiar panhandling presence in the neighborhood (ragged c…
I live in New Orleans and need to point out that this task force is not a solution looking for a problem. Crime is very real in the French Quarter and there is an overwhelming, obvious, and consistent presence of people who only want to take something from you. The French Quarter may be fun and exciting when you're with a group of people but finding yourself on one of the many side-streets and without a crowd of peop…
Meanwhile his buddy was pressuring him to get going, so the guy was really annoyed with me, but took the $5 and ran off to the guy shouting to him to get into the car. Only later, back in Europe, did I realise how close I could have been to a totally different outcome, so to me life stopped being a given when I realised that. gulp