Former judge: We don't need to live with out of control crime
Arthur Hunter • October 19, 2022
Recently The Wall Street Journal published a headline stating, “New Orleans Has America’s No. 1 Murder Rate. ‘We’re in a Crisis.'”
A headline that not only affects the hospitality industry, but also the safety and psyche of the people who live and work here.
To fix this crisis, consider the following solutions:
- Break down the murders to determine who, why and where and develop a strategy to target violent crimes.
- If the murders are drug-related, then the New Orleans Police Department, along with the FBI and DEA, must identify, investigate and infiltrate major drug gangs.
- If the murders are connected to domestic violence, then criminal justice entities, health care providers and schools should be integral parts of a comprehensive holistic policy shepherded by the Family Justice Center.
- If the murders are linked to armed robbery/carjacking, then more officers should be strategically deployed to hot spots.
- If the murders are what I call arguments with guns, such as road rage or a young person feeling “disrespected,” then we need a strong proactive police presence.
- We should also support adults known as violence interrupters, to step in and help deescalate arguments, particularly among young people, before they get out of control.
- We don’t have to live like this. With the right people with the right ideas doing the right things, we can have solutions, not excuses.
ARTHUR HUNTER IN THE NEWS

By John Simerman and Jeff Adelson | NOLA.com
•
January 31, 2025
As crowds descend on Bourbon Street in the run-up to the Super Bowl, they'll be met by a layer of checkpoints aimed at enforcing new restrictions that state officials say will keep the crowds safe. But the new ring of defenses won’t keep out one of the deadliest weapons in America: the firearm.

By Arthur Hunter
•
January 15, 2025
Ever since the 9/11 terrorist attacks that took down the World Trade towers in New York, cities been more aware that these tragedies can happen anywhere. In particular, the city of New Orleans
as been declared a soft target for a terrorist attack, partly because of the large crowds that gather here, on our streets.

By Arthur Hunter
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January 3, 2025
As a former New Orleans Police Department officer, I can tell you from first-hand experience that being a New Orleans Police officer is a tough job. You will be placed in dangerous situations and have to make split decisions to protect people, even if it means disregarding your own safety.