WP: New Orleans Police Keep Public Trust, Private Pain

[Pirate Smile]

New Orleans Police Keep Public Trust, Private Pain
Stress, Homelessness Afflict Many on Force

By Ariana Eunjung Cha
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 12, 2005; Page A01

NEW ORLEANS -- They sleep on the concrete sidewalk or in their cars. They scavenge for food from abandoned stores and cook by fire. They wash the laundry by hand and leave it to dry on lines hung from lampposts.

This is what life has been like for New Orleans police officers since Hurricane Katrina tore apart their city nearly two weeks ago.

The Wal-Mart Supercenter on the riverfront, looted in the storm's aftermath, is the new headquarters -- and for many, the new home -- for the 103 officers of the 6th District, which includes the city's historic Garden District. Their station house, as well as those of the 3rd, 5th and 7th districts, was flooded.

-snip-
During the worst of it, when people were drowning in their homes and dying because of a lack of basic necessities, two officers put guns to their heads and killed themselves. Two hundred quit. An estimated 70 percent of the force is now homeless.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/11/AR2005091101460.html

[babylonsister]

1. PTSD in Iraq? Just wait. The horror this has caused

will be interminable. :cry:

[truthisfreedom]

2. unbelieveable. these guys should get medals for sticking it out.

honestly.

[pop goes the weasel]

3. what great people

We give the police a hard time on this list, but I think that's only because we have so much riding on them always being at their best. The NOLA officers didn't always make the best decisions in every case, but they made the best decisions they could under extremely trying circumstances, and most of them have paid dearly in terms of their own lives and families. Some people have groused about their "vacations" in Vegas, but I think they should be offered early retirements with full benefits and a lifetime of free mental health counseling. These guys have each put in 40 years in 2 weeks.