Irish Channel Neighborhood Association

The Sixth District will conduct an anti-crime walk in the Milan neighborhood, which is a new addition to the Sixth District that was aquired when we restructured our district boundries. The walk will be this Thursday, 1/26/12, at 5:00pm. Members of our new community are encouraged to come meet and walk with the officers who are now working in your neighborhood.

The route for the walk is as follows:

Start: Stern Tennis Center at S. Saratoga and Marengo. We will walk up Marengo to South Liberty. From S. Liberty we will walk to Delachaise. Downward on Delachaise back to S. Saratoga. We will take S. Saratoga to Annette, Annette to Dryades, Dryades to Penniston, Penniston back to S. Saratoga where we will conclude at our original starting point at the Stern Tennis Center.

Matt Patin / 6th District Staff mbpatin@nola.gov

View 6th District Anti-Crime Walk in the Milan neighborhood in a larger map

NONPACC meetings will be held the third Wednesday of each month (except for February and December when no meetings will be held) from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m. at 2020 St. Charles Avenue.  NONPACC meetings are hosted by our Sixth District Police Department and provide an excellent opportunity for residents to become better informed about crime issues in the neighborhood.

6^th District NONPACC meeting 05/20/2008        

The meeting was led by Major Robert Bardy, and other 6^th District officers were in attendance. Roughly a dozen community members attended.

1.         General news.

Major Bardy announced that the 12-hour shifts would be resumed in the 6^th District, probably in the second week of June. His plan is to use that to manage an extra task force that has reduced crime when used in the past.

1. Major Bardy said that over 200 young people attended the Job Fair at the Dryades YMCA on May 10 and 30 vendors offered jobs. He believes this type of community involvement is essential to overall crime reduction in the area.
2. Major Bardy announced plans for a Youth Against Violence march to be held June 21. Marchers will meet at City Hall at 10 a.m. and march to Jackson Avenue, with the end of the march being the Mahalia Jackson Elementary. Following the march the new playground at Mahalia Jackson will be officially dedicated. The playground was built by KaBoom! and the National Basketball Association’s charitable organization.

2.         Irish Channel news.

a.       An Irish Channel resident asked about foot patrols in the Irish Channel. Major Bardy replied that every officer in his command does at least one hour of foot patrol a day, including Major Bardy. Major Bardy sees the foot patrols as a means of community involvement. He said that there are no set beats for the foot patrols but that they move with the crime patterns. Once the 12-hour shifts resume, the foot patrols will concentrate on trouble areas in the Irish Channel, among which he listed the area bounded by 8^th, Tchoupitoulas, 9^th and Chippewa streets.

b.      In response to a question about two robberies, one in the 1000 block of 8^th Street and another in the 1100 block of 8th, Lieutenant Lohman said that he believes them to be unrelated and they have developed suspects and are close to closing both incidents.

c.       In response to a question about two other recent robberies, one in the 2200 block of Laurel Street and another in the 2200 block of Magazine, Lieutenant Lohman said that he believes them to be related and they have developed suspects

d.      In response to a question about the crime cameras, Lieutenant Lohman said that the service has improved as a direct result of recent newspaper and television reporting. There are 40 cameras in the 6^th District and most work, but there are still technical difficulties on a daily basis.

e.       Forty gunfire sensors have been deployed in the 6^th District and the hardware to manage the sensors is now being installed in 6^th District Headquarters and in patrol cars. The sensors cover the area bounded by Martin Luther King Boulevard, Claiborne Avenue, Louisiana Avenue and Tchoupitoulas Street. The new technology promises an immediate response to gunfire within that area and it is supposed to determine the source of gunfire within seven seconds of sensing.3.         Next meeting.

The next NONPACC meeting will be on June 17, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 2020 St. Charles Avenue. The regular meeting time will be on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. for the foreseeable future.

A Youth Against Violence march will be held June 21. Marchers will meet at City Hall at 10 a.m. and march to Jackson Avenue, with the end of the march being the Mahalia Jackson Elementary. Following the march the new playground at Mahalia Jackson will be officially dedicated to fallen officer Nicola Cotton. The playground was built by KaBoom! and the National Basketball Association’s charitable organization.

The June NONPACC meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 17 at 6:30 p.m. at 2020 St. Charles Avenue.

The next NONPACC meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2020 St. Charles Avenue.

6^th District NONPACC meeting 04/15/2008        

The meeting was led by Major Robert Bardy, and other 6^th District officers were in attendance. Roughly six to eight community members attended.

1.         General news.

1. Major Bardy announced that, due to the success of the Job Fair held in Central City in the fall of 2007, there would be another in May of 2008. A training program will be held May 10 to help applicants learn to fill out applications, prepare resumes and perform well in a job interview. The Job Fair will be held May 17. Both the fair and the training will be at the Dryades YMCA.
2. Major Bardy reminded the community about the 6^th District’s Email Blast.  Sign-up is available at each NONPACC meeting. He also reported that the program is showing positive effects, with good feedback from the community, more tips from more people etc.
3. Major Bardy hopes to add new officers to the 6^th District and go back to 12-hour shifts by summer.
4. A community member reported roaming bands of “obnoxious kids” in Central City. Major Bardy promised to send patrol cars through the area.
5. Major Bardy also mentioned that the Venue on Tchoupitoulas Street has become attractive to criminals. Patrons leaving the Venue late at night have become targets for waiting muggers.
6. Major Bardy reported that Dustin Collins, who had been suspected of murder, had been arrested. 

2.         Irish Channel news.

a.       An Irish Channel resident reported that Annunciation Street between Philip and 1^st streets had become a trouble spot. Young people hang out in Clay Square until it is locked by the police at nightfall, then drift over to Annunciation. The resident said that nothing too bad had happened thus far, but he was concerned in anticipation of summer. Major Bardy and Lieutenant Lohman promised to send patrol cars through the area and keep an eye on the situation.

b.      In response to a shooting in the Irish Channel at St. Thomas and Eighth on April 14, Lieutenant Lohman said that the victims were uncooperative and as of the NONPACC meeting, the police had no new information on the perpetrators.

3.         Next meeting.

The next NONPACC meeting will be on May 20, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 2020 St. Charles Avenue. The regular meeting time will be on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. for the foreseeable future.

The March NONPACC meeting will be held Tuesday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m. at 2020 St. Charles Ave.  Come meet your Sixth District officers and neighbors!

6^th District NONPACC meeting 02/19/2008        

The meeting was led by Major Robert Bardy, and other 6^th District officers were in attendance. Roughly two dozen community members attended.

1.         General news.

Major Bardy announced that, due to the success of the Job Fair held in Central City in the fall of 2007, there would be another in the spring of 2008. The date has yet to be finalized, but should be announced soon.

1. Major Bardy reminded the community about the 6^th District’s Email Blast.  Sign-up is available at each NONPACC meeting.
2. Officer Nicola Cotton was killed in the line of duty while serving at the 6^th District. Major Bardy said that she “was in her purview … just overpowered” by the person arrested for her murder. Officer Cotton had been born and raised in Central City. NBA Cares, the social responsibility initiative of the National Basketball Association, has announced that it will work with Kaboom! to build a playspot in Officer Cotton’s honor at Mahalia Jackson Elementary. The Central City Comeback Committee will also develop a program to work with young girls, which was another interest of Officer Cotton’s.
3. A community member asked for help with the vacant lot at Camp and Thalia streets. He felt that the combination of homeless people and high grass was a potential fire hazard. Quality of life officers Favaloro and Joia spoke with the gentleman at length.
4. The attempted robbery on St. Charles Ave. between 1^st and 2^nd streets on February 19 was believed to be perpetrated by a group of young people that the 6^th District has been monitoring for some time. Several of the youths in question have been probated and are wearing ankle bracelets. Major Bardy is working to get a list of the probated youths in the district to keep better tabs on them and their activities, but this requires an order from a Juvenile Court judge.
5. The problem with the crime cameras was brought up and Major Bardy indicated that no over-arching solution was on the horizon.

2.         Irish Channel news.

a.       Major Bardy announced that his officers had made four gun arrests on the previous Saturday night and continue efforts to bring the Irish Channel under full control.

b.      He also described his meeting with the Irish Channel Neighborhood Association at that group’s February meeting. He stressed that is important for citizens to know their police.

c.       Major Bardy also discussed the ongoing problems in the 700 block of Washington Avenue. He identified the youths as belonging to the “Skull Street Mafia.” Many of these youths also wear ankle bracelets and Major Bardy hopes to have more complete information on them as soon as the court allows. This will provide a better ability to track these youths and protect the community.

3.         Next meeting.

The next NONPACC meeting will be on March 18, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 2020 St. Charles Ave. The regular meeting time will be on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. for the foreseeable future.

6^th District NONPACC meeting 01/15/2008        

The meeting was led by Captain Robert Bardy, and other 6^th District officers were in attendance. Roughly two dozen community members attended.

A.         General news.

Capt. Bardy announced that he and the other district captains have all been promoted to Commander.

1. Capt. Bardy reminded the community about the 6^th District’s Email Blast.  Sign-up is available at each NONPACC meeting.
2. New Orleans has had 11 murders in the first 15 days of 2008; one each in Central City on 1/14 and 1/15. As a result, Superintendent Riley is reorganizing the resources available to the most troubled areas. Capt. Bardy expects to get extra help with his Tactical, Traffic and Narcotics units.
3. Capt. Bardy mentioned on multiple occasions that he felt the 6^th District has a “good grip on the Irish Channel.” Large efforts to clean up Chippewa and Annunciation have greatly reduced crime on those streets. Capt. Bardy made clear that there would be no reduction of effort.
4. During Mardi Gras, police cars will patrol the river side of St. Charles Ave. and will be in place before parades roll.
5. The 6^th District is working with federal agencies to bring a program called “Weed and Seed” into the River
   Garden neighborhood. The program targets kids and provides after school programs, sports, and other activities designed to intervene with troubled, and potentially troubled, kids.
6. Capt. Bardy commented favorably on improved efforts from the reorganized District Attorney’s office.
7. Capt. Bardy introduced Rick Prince, a community activist largely responsible for the success of “Christmas at the Sixth 2007” on Saturday, December 15, 2007. 120 bicycles and other toys were given to needy children, the 6^th District served a hot lunch to over 500 people and more than 20 people sat in Santa’s lap.
8. Various questions from the community regarding improved efforts to track stolen cars and keep the district informed about crime were addressed by Capt Bardy. These issues will be followed up on in future meetings.

B.         Follow-up on specific crimes.

1.       In response to the assault on a neighborhood resident at Jackson and St. Charles Avenues in which the victim was shot in the jaw, detectives developed good leads but were unable to get a positive identification from the victim.

C.         Next meeting.

The next NONPACC meeting will be on February 19, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 2020 St. Charles Avenue. The regular meeting time will be on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. for the foreseeable future.