A.C. Thompson Discusses Disorder in New Orleans — ProPublica

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A.C. Thompson Discusses Disorder in New Orleans

Aug. 31, 2010, 3:29 p.m. EDT

Last week, the ongoing, joint investigation by ProPublica, Frontline and the New Orleans Times-Picayune revealed that after Hurricane Katrina an order circulated among New Orleans police authorizing officers to shoot looters. The following day, we reported that federal agents had begun an inquiry into the allegations. To date, sixteen current and former New Orleans police officers have been charged with crimes related to post-Katrina shootings. And there are nine separate civil rights investigations of the department underway.

In this week’s ProPublica Podcast, Quadia Muhammad speaks to reporter A.C. Thompson about the post-Katrina shootings and new allegations. The pair discuss the NOPD’s culture of corruption, what took place in the days after Katrina hit, what caused the “shoot looters” orders confusion, why past proposed reforms to the NOPD never took hold and ultimately, how the federal government could take over the department.

Stories related to this podcast:

Federal Agents Open Inquiry Into Order Authorizing NOPD Cops to Shoot Looters

After Katrina, New Orleans Cops Were Told They Could Shoot Looters

Feds Tell Two New Orleans Officers They’re Targets in Post-Katrina Shooting Probe

ProPublica Law & Disorder homepage

Frontline: Law & Disorder (watch the investigation online)

New Orleans Times-Picayune Law & Disorder series page

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