City Considers Challenge To NOPD Consent Decree

A federal judge has signed off on the Justice Department's consent decree to reform the New Orleans Police Department. City officials want more time to work out paying for the changes.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says he’s committed to reforming the troubled police department, but the city is also facing another consent decree to reform its jail. He says imposing both plans at once could force the city into bankruptcy.

Attorney General Eric Holder says the decree comes after one of the most intensive investigations of a law enforcement agency ever conducted by the Justice Department. Police reforms are estimated to cost the city $11 million annually for the next several years.

Cost of enforcing jail reforms is still unknown.

The city has until the end of this month to decide if it wants to challenge the judge’s order.