Case Study
New Orleans, LA
PFM has been engaged by the City of New Orleans to improve both operational and financial performance. As part of the citywide project, PFM reviewed the New Orleans Police Department. The focus of the review was to develop Strategic Opportunities for operational improvements in the department that could be implemented though the FY2008 budget process. In this analysis PFM looked at recent evaluations of the community policing strategies of the department, the Comstat review process of the senior officers, and the department's use of technology and equipment.
The work with the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) resulted in identifying the following strategic opportunities. These were based on best practices, NOPD's current situation, and the conditions of the City of New Orleans.
- Reduce violent crimes by increasing the District Attorney's case acceptance rate, develop a comprehensive, citywide approach to hotspots, and target violent offenders.
- Increase police visibility.
- Incorporate community policing into patrol operations. Co-locate NOPD crime lab with the Coroner lab and NOPD property and evidence.
- Increase the Capacity of Staff.
- Recruitment and Retention of Staff.
Some of these opportunities required additional funding while others demanded a reallocation of existing funds and greater collaboration.
In PFM's continuing work with the police department, we are assisting in developing specific budget proposals and developing performance measures to track progress against goals. In addition, PFM is working with the police department and its relationships with other city departments and the criminal justice system to improve public safety and homeland security.