A community group in New Orleans says the city should not be allowed to get out of a court-backed agreement to reform the police department.
"Community United for Change" filed papers in federal court Wednesday opposing the city's move to vacate the agreement. Instead, the group says, the court should consider putting the New Orleans Police Department under U.S. Justice Department supervision.
The agreement was the result of long negotiations between the city and the Justice Department and will cost the city millions of dollars a year to implement. Mayor Mitch Landrieu once backed the agreement. But last month he complained that the Justice Department in December made a separate agreement with the New Orleans sheriff for reforms at the city-funded jail — at a possible cost of $17 million.