Gov. Jeff Landry (R-LA) declared a state of emergency Friday in response to Louisiana’s law enforcement “staffing crisis” after the state saw some of the highest homicide rates in the country in recent years.
While national law enforcement experienced 47% more resignations and 20% more retirements in 2022 than in 2019, the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association estimated it is down 1,800 deputies as of July 2023, according to the executive order.
“As a former police officer and sheriff’s deputy, I understand the vital role our law enforcement officers play in our communities,” Landry said in a statement. “Currently, our state is facing a shortage of officers, resulting in increased crime and less public safety.”
The shortage is due to law enforcement not being able to hire officers faster than they are losing them, resulting in departments’ record-low unemployment and longer response times, according to the emergency declaration. It also adds that 75% of state police departments are having problems recruiting officers, while 65% reported that they don’t have enough candidates applying.
“We applaud Governor Landry for highlighting the importance of the law enforcement profession and our state’s desperate need to fill valuable front line deputy positions,” Michael Ranatza, the executive director of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association, said in a statement.
Last month, the governor slammed the New Orleans Police Department for being in “shambles,” and he has since established plans to bring a permanent Louisiana State Troop to the city, Police 1 reported.
“I mean, the New Orleans Police Department is in shambles because of a federal consent decree and a federal judge,” Landry said at an event in January. “We have to wrestle that away from them, and even if she gave it to us today, it would take a decade to build that police department back up.”
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The emergency order comes after Landry announced last month there will be a crime-focused legislative session on Monday in an effort to crack down on crime by reforming the state’s criminal justice system.
Crime in the state is down, according to the FBI, following a surge of violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, with New Orleans gaining national attention for being a hotbed for violent crimes.