NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Attorneys for the city of New Orleans and the federal government met behind closed doors with a federal judge Thursday to discuss a new agreement to overhaul the New Orleans Police Department.
Participants in the status conference with U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan declined to give details of the discussion. U.S. Attorney Jim Letten described the meeting as productive but said he was not at liberty to say more.
It was unclear when the judge would grant final court approval to the agreement, which was the result of long negotiations between the city and federal officials and announced Tuesday by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
It came roughly 16 months after the Justice Department issued a scathing report that said New Orleans police officers have often used deadly force without justification, repeatedly made unconstitutional arrests and engaged in racial profiling. The report also found that the department has long failed to adequately protect New Orleans residents because of numerous shortcomings, including inadequate supervision.
Developing a new policy on use of force, deadly and otherwise, is part of the agreement. The agreement also will require the police department to overhaul policies and procedures for training, interrogations, searches and arrests, use of photo lineups, recruitment and supervision.
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