NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) –– The New Orleans Police Department’s decision to operate a vocational school from its 8th district station in the French Quarter to circumvent a new state law is facing opposition from state officials.
New Orleans leaders announced the move earlier this week, days before a new law, authored by Sen. Blake Miguez from New Iberia, which would allow permitless concealed carry throughout the state.
President of the Metropolitan Crime Commission Rafael Goyeneche said city officials asked the legislature to carve out an exception for the French Quarter, but lawmakers said a school within the French Quarter created a 1,000-foot radius. “What the legislators didn’t realize was that that school closed down a couple of years ago,” Goyeneche said.
He explained that city leadership came up with a plan to move annual training, required for all officers, to their eighth district station. This would create a vocational school with a 1,000-foot radius. Goyeneche said state law says, “you cannot carry a firearm without a permit within 1000 ft of a school.”
Attorney General Liz Murrill disagrees with the move, posting a statement to Twitter:
“I’m working hard to help keep New Orleans safe, but the City cannot avoid state law by unilaterally designating police stations ‘vo-tech locations.’ You cannot just ‘designate yourself a vo-tech school. Among other implications, if it was one (it’s not) the police department would be under the jurisdiction of a board of supervisors for higher education, and it would be subject to other oversight requirements. I have no specific plans yet, but would caution the NOPD that it will likely be subject to civil rights lawsuits under Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act if it arrests people pursuant to its made-up designation, which is clearly not legal or effective. I certainly hope the NOPD isn’t violating people’s rights by making up their own rules, which is why the Department is under a federal consent decree.”
Attorney General Liz Murrill
Goyeneche believes it is a solid plan. “The city is also acutely aware that it may expose them to civil liability as well. So the fact that they are prepared to go forward with this tells me that they’re convinced that they’re on sound legal footing.” But he went on to state that he believes we will have to wait and see.
The statewide law will go into effect on July 4, but in New Orleans, it will begin on Aug. 1 due to a city ordinance.
Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.