03-11-2011

The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office “Krewe of Trash” Logs 3,000+
Man-Hours Cleaning Miles of Parade Routes.

NEW ORLEANS – March 9, 2011 – Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin N. Gusman announced there were approximately 76 fewer arrests – a decrease of five percent - for the entire season of Mardi Gras 2011, as compared to 2010, and a decrease of 21 percent as compared to 2009.

In addition, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office’s “Krewe of Trash” logged 3,000+ man-hours cleaning miles of parade routes during the Carnival season. This program is comprised of community service inmates and Orleans Parish Sheriff deputies.

“This is the second consecutive year that the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office has experienced a downturn in the number of arrests during Mardi Gras,” said Sheriff Marlin N. Gusman. “By partnering with the New Orleans Police Department and other criminal justice organizations throughout the city and region, the OPSO has established a more efficient system of handling those who break the law. Even with large, possibly record-breaking crowds on the parade routes and in the French Quarter, the vast majority of residents and citizens were able to enjoy the full Mardi Gras experience safely.”

Overall, the Carnival season saw a significant decline in arrests, across almost all categories. During the second weekend of Mardi Gras specifically, there were 18 fewer arrests compared to 2010, a decline of 18 percent. The second weekend of Carnival traditionally draws huge crowds of locals and tourists alike.

Charges ranged from the more typical Mardi Gras violations, such as lewd conduct, public drunkenness and disturbing the peace, to more serious violations, including drug arrests. However, overall arrests during the entire parading season decreased by more than five percent.

The statistics below are for the second weekend of the Carnival, as well as the entire season as compared to 2010:

ENTIRE SEASON

2nd WEEKEND

As these tables reflect, the Intake and Processing Center (IPC) was busy during the carnival season. Other areas of the Sheriff’s Office were just as busy.

The Mardi Gras Alternate IPC and Mobile Communications Unit was up and running between Friday, March 4 and Sunday, March 6. In its sixth year of service, the Mobile Communications Unit is designed to allow individuals arrested for municipal, traffic and some misdemeanor state charges to be processed in the French Quarter, thus relieving arresting officers from the long transport time to the IPC. This also enables law enforcement officers to return quickly to patrolling the French Quarter and speeds the processing and release time of arrested subjects.

Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office provided for crowd control and security at Gallier Hall, and the Sheriff’s Mounted Division and patrol units provided an escort for many parades.