New Orleans DA Fights ‘Terrorism’ on Streets with AI Spycraft

Kate O’Keeffe and Cameron McWhirter, Wall Street Journal September 17, 2023 Prosecutors work with former intelligence officers and artificial-intelligence tools to gather and analyze evidence. The case against Dijon Dixon, accused of killing Cornelius Smith in 2019, looked to be falling apart after a key witness backed out following an online death threat. Then prosecutors presented the defense…

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New Orleans goes 12 days without a homicide

Eleanor Tabone, 4WWL September 13, 2023 For the first time in more than two years, there hasn’t been a homicide in 12 days in the City of New Orleans. Crime analysts believe the hot weather and gun enforcement could be the reason for the reduction in violent crime. Two years after Hurricane Katrina devastated Southeast…

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Mayor to Nominate Former Oakland Chief as NOPD Superintendent

Ian Auzenne, WWL Radio September 11, 2023 Anne Kirkpatrick is Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s choice to become the next superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department. Cantrell’s nomination became known early Monday and was confirmed by Metropolitan Crime Commission president/CEO Raphael Goyeneche. He told WWL’s Newell Normand that he’s not surprised by the choice. “I also…

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Federal hearing resumes over NOPD’s handling of Officer Vappie investigation

Morgan Lentes, WDSU September 5, 2023 A federal monitor has claimed the investigation violated the department’s consent decree. City leaders returned to federal court Tuesday to discuss the New Orleans Police Department’s handling of an internal investigation into Officer Jeffrey Vappie. Vappie, who serves on Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s protective detail, was accused of payroll fraud,…

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New Orleans criminologist Peter Scharf dies at 78

By Fox 8 Staff August 28, 2023 Longtime criminologist Peter Scharf died Sunday (Aug. 27) at the age of 78, his employer the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans announced Monday. “Dr. Peter Scharf, an accomplished member of the faculty of LSU Health New Orleans’ Schools of Medicine and Public Health, passed away after a…

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