WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) endorsed a push to repeal a New Orleans City ordinance barring the New Orleans Policy Department (NOPD) from using certain technologies to stop crime.
“I go to New Orleans—I’m constantly hearing from folks that they’re afraid to walk the streets in a city that they love,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Privacy must be respected. The technology is not perfect. But always taking into account these concerns and limitations, law enforcement needs more tools to find and prosecute criminals.”
Background
In 2020, the New Orleans City Council banned the NOPD from using facial recognition programs, characteristics tracking systems, StingRay cellular phone surveillance devices, and predictive policing software in their effort to fight crime.
Next month, the city council will consider an ordinance to roll back the restrictions.
Watch Cassidy’s full statement here.
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