A Day In The Life Of A New Orleans Police Officer

One thing about New Orleans that hasn’t changed in the five years since Hurricane Katrina is the blistered reputation of the city’s police department.

In the days after Hurricane Katrina, the NOPD became infamous for officers who deserted their posts or were caught looting. Sixteen officers now face allegations of federal crimes, from murder to corruption to cover-ups.

Back in 2008, NPR’s Audie Cornish met Officer Sherife Davis on his first day of training. Back then, the cocky Air Force veteran wasn’t worried about the NOPD’s reputation or the city’s criminals. He’d already served in combat missions overseas.

“This city is no worse than Afghanistan or Pakistan, Iraq,” Davis said then.

Cornish caught up with Davis earlier this month. He took her along in his squad car.

Patrolling The Neighborhood

Davis drives by the Iberville Housing Development — a regular stop on his patrol and where he spent much of his training time.

“You get to know the people back here,” Davis says. “So even the ones you put in jail, they eventually get out, and they come back, and there’s a respect built.”

But even this veteran of Afghanistan is surprised by the level of violence. Davis remembers one victim who was shot 48 times, then run over by a car.

“In New Orleans, there’s a culture where they actually sit and wait to commit a murder,” he says. “They actually hunt down their victims, literally.”

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