New Orleans police superintendent Eddie Compass resigns

[ohio_liberal]

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AP) -- Police Superintendent Eddie Compass resigned Tuesday after four turbulent weeks in which the police force was hit by desertions and disorganization in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath.

"I served this department for 26 years and have taken it through some of the toughest times of its history. Every man in a leadership position must know when it's time to hand over the reins," Compass said at a news conference. "I'll be going on in another direction that God has for me."

(snip..)

Neither Compass nor Mayor Ray Nagin would say whether Compass was pressured to leave.

"It's a sad day in the city of New Orleans when a hero makes a decision like this," said Nagin, who appointed Compass in mid-2002. "He leaves the department in pretty good shape and with a significant amount of leadership."

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/28/chief.resigns.ap/index.html

[ugarte]

1. What size police department will they even need?

It'll be years, if ever, before the population even approaches what it once was.

[ohio_liberal]

3. Well, immediately after the hurricane

They only had about 1500 hundred cops left. It's probably even less now. They've still gotta maintain for a while even if there isn't a city full of people.

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. These guys were deliberately cut off from the world

and their asses left out there to hang and dry.

This just sucks. The people who were there and tried get screwed again and assholes like Brown get put back on the payroll.

[ohio_liberal]

4. I know, it's just sickening

All the stories in the media of the NOLA police are bad. People just don't realize that 1500 cops can't control 80,000+ people. Cops only maintain the law at the will of the people.

They were cut off with no communications for 3 days. I think they did a hell of a job. Chief Compass is probably just plain worn out. I always thought he looked heartsick when they interviewed him on TV.