NNew ew OOrleans rleans Police StatePolice State

The Militarization of New Orleans The Militarization of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in the wake of and the Gulf Coast in the wake of

Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina

NOpolicestate.orgNOpolicestate.org

Roles and ResponsibilitiesRoles and Responsibilities

Federal Federal National Response Plan (NRP)National Response Plan (NRP) Department of Homeland Security Department of Homeland Security

(DHS) & FEMA(DHS) & FEMA

StateState National Guard UnitsNational Guard Units Law EnforcementLaw Enforcement

Corruption & MismanagementCorruption & Mismanagement

Kenner, Louisiana Administration Kenner, Louisiana Administration Officer Cedric FloydOfficer Cedric Floyd

Federal Emergency Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Management Agency (FEMA)

Veterans for PeaceVeterans for Peace Louisiana StateLouisiana State Unequal distribution of resourcesUnequal distribution of resources

Governor of LouisianaGovernor of LouisianaKathleen Babineaux Blanco:Kathleen Babineaux Blanco:

““These troops are fresh back from These troops are fresh back from Iraq, well trained, experienced, Iraq, well trained, experienced, battle-tested and under my orders to battle-tested and under my orders to restore order in the streets. The restore order in the streets. The have M-16s and they are locked and have M-16s and they are locked and loaded. These troops know how to loaded. These troops know how to shoot and kill and they are more than shoot and kill and they are more than willing to do so if necessary and I willing to do so if necessary and I expect they will.”expect they will.”

August 19August 19

NORTHCOMNORTHCOM DCO’sDCO’s

Friday August 26Friday August 26

EMACEMAC Rotary Rotary

Wing & Wing & CrewCrew

Sunday August 28Sunday August 28

225225thth ENG GRP ENG GRP MissionsMissions

Monday August 29Monday August 29

Initial SurveyInitial Survey SARSAR TaskTask 48 hrs-48 hrs-

323 flight hrs323 flight hrs

2,662 rescued2,662 rescued

2,273 transported2,273 transported

170 tons of cargo170 tons of cargo

70 tons Class I70 tons Class I

Tuesday August 30Tuesday August 30

No Mission DoDNo Mission DoD FederalizationFederalization Request Request

Federal Military Federal Military SupportSupport

Wednesday August 31Wednesday August 31

SARSAR Security/Law Security/Law

& Order& Order No to No to

FederalizatioFederalizationn

General Honore: witnessing NG General Honore: witnessing NG soldiers patrolling the streets of soldiers patrolling the streets of New Orleans with guns up…New Orleans with guns up…

““This is not Baghdad, these This is not Baghdad, these are American citizens.”are American citizens.”

Thursday September 1Thursday September 1

TF KatrinaTF Katrina DoD Resp.DoD Resp. Active DoD Active DoD Title 10Title 10

Friday September 2Friday September 2

NG ArrivesNG Arrives NG Troops NG Troops 256256thth BDE BDE

CMBT TMCMBT TM

Brig. Gen. Gary JonesBrig. Gen. Gary Jones

““This place is going to look like Little This place is going to look like Little SomaliaSomalia,” said General Jones. “,” said General Jones. “We’re We’re going to go out and take this city going to go out and take this city

back. This will be a combat operation back. This will be a combat operation to get this city under controlto get this city under control.” .”

The newspaper clearly got the message, The newspaper clearly got the message, referring in its report to troops coming in to referring in its report to troops coming in to

““fight the insurgency in the cityfight the insurgency in the city.”.”

September 3September 3

Humanitarian AssistanceHumanitarian Assistance

LTC ThibodeauzLTC Thibodeauz

““I felt a great pride in the fact that the I felt a great pride in the fact that the National Guard had saved the lives National Guard had saved the lives

of 70,000 people through search and of 70,000 people through search and rescue, relief, and evacuation. The rescue, relief, and evacuation. The

National Guard has a mission of National Guard has a mission of supporting civil authorities during supporting civil authorities during times of crisis. It is my belief that times of crisis. It is my belief that

this unified effort was the reason for this unified effort was the reason for this tremendous success.”this tremendous success.”

September 4September 4

DoJ & Law DoJ & Law EnforcemeEnforcement Supportnt Support

September 6September 6

Forcible Forcible RemovalRemoval

September 7 & 8September 7 & 8

FRAGO 3 & 4FRAGO 3 & 4

Major DancerMajor Dancer

““As we begin to prepare for another major As we begin to prepare for another major hurricane I look back on the number of missions hurricane I look back on the number of missions that the National Guard had conducted to date. that the National Guard had conducted to date.

Based on my expertise as the LANG JOC Based on my expertise as the LANG JOC operations officer for the past five years, a operations officer for the past five years, a

typical hurricane response by the National Guard typical hurricane response by the National Guard might entail anywhere from 2-300 missions. might entail anywhere from 2-300 missions. During this response the NG had been tasked During this response the NG had been tasked with over 1,000 missions form the Louisiana with over 1,000 missions form the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Office of Homeland Security and Emergency

Preparedness. This number does not include the Preparedness. This number does not include the thousands of missions conducted by guardsmen thousands of missions conducted by guardsmen working directly for local government that were working directly for local government that were not tracked at the JTF level. The magnitude of not tracked at the JTF level. The magnitude of this storm had tested the National Guard and this storm had tested the National Guard and demonstrated that we were able to respond in demonstrated that we were able to respond in

an effective and timely manner.”an effective and timely manner.”

New Orleans Police New Orleans Police Department (NOPD)Department (NOPD)

Brutality & CorruptionBrutality & Corruptionbefore and after before and after

Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina

The New Orleans resident and retired The New Orleans resident and retired school teacher, was viciously beat by school teacher, was viciously beat by

three police officers after he was three police officers after he was detained for public intoxication. detained for public intoxication.

Mr. Davis has been alcohol free for 25 Mr. Davis has been alcohol free for 25 years and was only in town to check on years and was only in town to check on

the damage of his property after Katrina. the damage of his property after Katrina.

Shockingly enough the three officers were Shockingly enough the three officers were white and Robert Davis is black.white and Robert Davis is black.

Robert Davis, 64Robert Davis, 64

National incarceration rate per National incarceration rate per 100,000 residents is 486100,000 residents is 486

Louisiana incarceration rate - Louisiana incarceration rate - 816816 – the highest per capita – the highest per capita raterate

Texas is 2Texas is 2ndnd at 694 at 694 All of the 5 highest state All of the 5 highest state

incarceration rates are in the incarceration rates are in the southern United Statessouthern United States

The U.S. has the highest per The U.S. has the highest per capita prison population in the capita prison population in the

worldworld

Intake at OPPIntake at OPP

Orleans Parish Prison (OPP)Orleans Parish Prison (OPP)Pre Hurricane KatrinaPre Hurricane Katrina

Several building complex housing men, Several building complex housing men, women and less than 100 juveniles women and less than 100 juveniles

Average inmate population - over 6000Average inmate population - over 6000 99thth largest jail in the U.S. largest jail in the U.S. 65% of those arrested and held are 65% of those arrested and held are

released without ever being charged released without ever being charged with a crimewith a crime

60% of the population are individuals held 60% of the population are individuals held on attachments, traffic, or municipal on attachments, traffic, or municipal charges charges

Sunday August 28, 2005 Sunday August 28, 2005 National Press ConferenceNational Press Conference

“ “[W]e have backup generators to [W]e have backup generators to accommodate any power loss… We're accommodate any power loss… We're fully staffed. We're under our fully staffed. We're under our emergency operations plan. So we're emergency operations plan. So we're only -- we've been working with the only -- we've been working with the police department --police department -- so we're going so we're going to keep our prisoners where they to keep our prisoners where they belongbelong.” .”

~ Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff ~ Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff

Marlin N. GusmanMarlin N. Gusman

OPP and KatrinaOPP and Katrina

About 2000 inmates from other facilities About 2000 inmates from other facilities are evacuated to the OPP complex are evacuated to the OPP complex including women and juvenilesincluding women and juveniles

At landfall, the OPP population is At landfall, the OPP population is over 8000over 8000

Last confirmed meal and clean water Last confirmed meal and clean water served is at dinner on Sunday August 28served is at dinner on Sunday August 28

Inmates report loss of all phone Inmates report loss of all phone privileges on Sunday August 28privileges on Sunday August 28

Those scheduled for release on or before Those scheduled for release on or before landfall are told that they will be held landfall are told that they will be held until after the stormuntil after the storm

OPP after KatrinaOPP after Katrina

Angola “The Farm”Angola “The Farm”

The Louisiana state penitentiary at The Louisiana state penitentiary at Angola is the largest maximum Angola is the largest maximum security prison in the United Statessecurity prison in the United States

Angola has been a prison, notoriously one Angola has been a prison, notoriously one of the most violent in the U.S., since the of the most violent in the U.S., since the end of the Civil War.end of the Civil War.

The 18,000-acre prison is on the site The 18,000-acre prison is on the site of a plantation that derived its name of a plantation that derived its name from the area in Africa that many of from the area in Africa that many of the slave labors originated from – the slave labors originated from – AngolaAngola

Inmates still perform manual farm laborInmates still perform manual farm labor

Angola “The Farm”Angola “The Farm”

Current warden - Burl Cain, with a staff Current warden - Burl Cain, with a staff over 1000over 1000

Angola houses more than 5000 Angola houses more than 5000 inmatesinmates

3/4 of them black 3/4 of them black 85%-90% of whom will die while 85%-90% of whom will die while

inside its wallsinside its walls About 42% of the prisoners come from About 42% of the prisoners come from

Orleans and Jefferson ParishesOrleans and Jefferson Parishes

Camp GreyhoundCamp Greyhound

Private Military Firmsand New Orleans

Blackwater employees in New Orleans armed Blackwater employees in New Orleans armed with M-16 assault rifles, handguns, plenty of with M-16 assault rifles, handguns, plenty of ammunition and wearing bulletproof vests.ammunition and wearing bulletproof vests.

PMFs are profit-driven organizations that trade PMFs are profit-driven organizations that trade in professional services intricately linked to in professional services intricately linked to warfare. They are corporate bodies that warfare. They are corporate bodies that specialize in the provision of military skills—specialize in the provision of military skills—including tactical combat operations, strategic including tactical combat operations, strategic planning, intelligence gathering and analysis, planning, intelligence gathering and analysis, operational support, troop training, and military operational support, troop training, and military technical assistance.technical assistance.

P.W. Singer, from P.W. Singer, from Corporate Warriors: The Rise and Corporate Warriors: The Rise and Ramifications of the Private Military IndustryRamifications of the Private Military Industry

We are not simply a "private security We are not simply a "private security company." We are a professional military, law company." We are a professional military, law enforcement, security, peacekeeping, and enforcement, security, peacekeeping, and stability operations firm who provides turnkey stability operations firm who provides turnkey solutions. We assist with the development of solutions. We assist with the development of national and global security policies and national and global security policies and military transformation plans.military transformation plans.

Blackwater USA website, www.blackwaterusa.comBlackwater USA website, www.blackwaterusa.com

Blackwater employees in New Orleans:Blackwater employees in New Orleans:

September, 2005: ~200 employees. 164 employees September, 2005: ~200 employees. 164 employees under contract with FPS through FEMA.under contract with FPS through FEMA.

March, 2006: 330 employees. Blackwater still March, 2006: 330 employees. Blackwater still protecting FEMA sites.protecting FEMA sites.

DHS contract HSCEFC-05-J-F00002 provided DHS contract HSCEFC-05-J-F00002 provided Blackwater with $33.3 million through December 31, Blackwater with $33.3 million through December 31, 2005. Blackwater made $42 million in New Orleans 2005. Blackwater made $42 million in New Orleans through December.through December.

March 15 proposal from St. Bernard Parish to FEMA:March 15 proposal from St. Bernard Parish to FEMA:

FEMA would provide $70 million over 3 years for the FEMA would provide $70 million over 3 years for the St. Bernard Parish Police Department to supplement St. Bernard Parish Police Department to supplement the police force with 100 contracted DynCorp the police force with 100 contracted DynCorp employees. The DynCorp employees would:employees. The DynCorp employees would:

Wear the St. Bernard Parish police uniform;Wear the St. Bernard Parish police uniform;Carry weapons, and;Carry weapons, and;Be deputized to make arrests.Be deputized to make arrests.

DynCorp has made $14 million since landfall.DynCorp has made $14 million since landfall.

Instinctive Shooting International employee Instinctive Shooting International employee Yoav Bardugo patrols Audubon Place armed Yoav Bardugo patrols Audubon Place armed

with an M-16 assault rifle.with an M-16 assault rifle.

““It's safe for the rich people,” Bardugo said.It's safe for the rich people,” Bardugo said.

Private Military Firms in New Orleans:Private Military Firms in New Orleans:

American Security GroupAmerican Security GroupArmorGroupArmorGroup

Blackwater USABlackwater USABody Armor and Tactical SecurityBody Armor and Tactical Security

DynCorpDynCorpInstinctive Shooting InternationalInstinctive Shooting International

InterconInterconWackenhutWackenhut

This is a trend. You're going to see a lot more This is a trend. You're going to see a lot more guys like us in these situations.guys like us in these situations.

Blackwater employee quoted in October 10, 2005 Blackwater employee quoted in October 10, 2005 issue of issue of The NationThe Nation

The GuardianThe NationThe Times-PicayuneUSA TodayThe Virginia-PilotThe Washington Post

The Baltimore SunThe Brookings Institution

The Christian Science MonitorDemocracy Now!

The Journal Gazette (Ft. Wayne, IN)The Grand Rapids Press

Sources:

NNew ew OOrleans rleans Police StatePolice State

The Militarization of New Orleans The Militarization of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in the wake of and the Gulf Coast in the wake of

Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina

NOpolicestate.orgNOpolicestate.org