Nagin Defends Use of 'Phantom Police' in New Orleans - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

mikecc · 11-15-2005, 09:14 AM

Nagin Defends Use of 'Phantom Police'
Ray Nagin, mayor of New Orleans, lashed back at critics after the FBI discovered that up to 700 so-called members of the city police force simply did not exist. Funding for many of these officers was provided by the federal government.

"During the storm and aftermath we'd heard reports that hundreds of New Orleans police officers had deserted their post," said an FBI spokesman."

Further investigation indicates that these posts had never been manned in the first place, and the funds supposedly paid in wages has disappeared."

"Sure, we "overstated" the number of officers on the force,"said Nagin. "We did this to deter crime."

As Nagin explained it, the "phantom officers" were used as a decoy to "frighten" would-be offenders. "Just as George Washington lit fake campfires to lull the British troops before his surprise attack at Princeton, we in New Orleans have employed a similar strategy."

The effectiveness of Nagin's alleged strategy is in doubt, though.
New Orleans has one of the highest crime rates in the nation.

As for what happened to the funds that were supposed to have paid police salaries, Nagin asserted that they were used to hire consultants and purchase computer software needed to sustain New Orleans' "Virtual Police Force."

"The software had to be custom made," said Nagin. "It's not something you can buy at CompUSA. Software designers don't come cheap. Neither do the public relations experts who developed our media campaign."

The media campaign featured TV spots of various street people implying that they could be undercover cops. In one ad, an apparently toothless derelict looks into the camera and says, "I be watchin' you. So don't you go misbehavin'."

Unimpressed by Nagin's explanation, the FBI asserted it will continue its investigation.

And they want us, the citizens of these United States, to give them $40 Billion no strings attached and no oversight, to rebuild New Orleans!

Give Me a Break!!!!!!!

NaCl H2O · 11-15-2005, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikecc

"Sure, we "overstated" the number of officers on the force,"said Nagin. "We did this to deter crime."

Is this lying?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikecc

As for what happened to the funds that were supposed to have paid police salaries, Nagin asserted that they were used to hire consultants and purchase computer software needed to sustain New Orleans' "Virtual Police Force."

A virtual police force....

The Dad Fisherman · 11-15-2005, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaCl H2O

A virtual police force....

Why Not....It looks like they've been running on a Virtual Government for years.

Swimmer · 11-15-2005, 12:18 PM

Thanks for posting that MIKE. Been saying since the hurricane that there is more than stinks down there than the sewerage floating around. I'll bet the governor is in on it too.

Skip N · 11-15-2005, 12:51 PM

That guys an idiot...about time he starts taking some flak.

JohnR · 11-15-2005, 01:07 PM

While I wouldn't doubt curruption took place and is still taking place, this may be another urban legend:

Quote:

Claim: New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin created a phantom force of 700 "virtual policemen."

Status: False.

Check the link: http://www.snopes.com/katrina/satire/police.asp

Saltheart · 11-15-2005, 01:30 PM

I see jail time for someone.

MakoMike · 11-16-2005, 09:12 AM

Mike,
where did you find that article? I can't find it anywhere on the wire services.

mikecc · 11-16-2005, 09:16 AM

artical

Pete_G · 11-16-2005, 11:07 AM

The dis-information that roams the Internet really blows my mind.

MakoMike · 11-16-2005, 11:18 AM

Thanks Mike!

JohnR · 11-16-2005, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete_G

The dis-information that roams the Internet really blows my mind.

Yep.... Anyone other than Pete read the link I put up? Now I'm not an expert but I believe snopes is considered "fair and balanced"

spence · 11-16-2005, 12:06 PM

I did! I did!

-spence

MakoMike · 11-16-2005, 12:22 PM

John,
Missed your post at first, which is why I asked. I couldn't find the story on any of the wire services and I'm pretty sure they all would have picked up on it if it was true.

The Dad Fisherman · 11-16-2005, 12:32 PM

I don't believe anything I read on the internet......except what you guys tell me.

Pete_G · 11-16-2005, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnR

Yep.... Anyone other than Pete read the link I put up? Now I'm not an expert but I believe snopes is considered "fair and balanced"

Snopes is a great website. If it doesn't come from CNN, the AP, or Reuters, and I don't believe it, I always check there.

stripersnipr · 11-16-2005, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete_G

Snopes is a great website. If it doesn't come from CNN, the AP, or Reuters, and I don't believe it, I always check there.

You might want to check their reports too.

spence · 11-16-2005, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stripersnipr

You might want to check their reports too.

Classic!

I nearly posted that someone would make a "liberal media bias" comment, but deleted it...

Pete_G...the merlot sipping, Starbucks drinking pink panty wearing left wing nut job hell bend on creating a socialist surfcasting scene in Newport

-spence

Swimmer · 11-17-2005, 12:18 PM

I CALL IT STEALING. THE LIMOSINE LIBERALS WILL CALL THE PHANTOMS INOVATIVE. THAT PROGRAM PAYS FOR 75% OF A COPS PAY THE FIRST YEAR, 50% THE SECOND AND 25% THE THIRD. THE MUNICIPALITY THEN ASSUMES THE ENTIRE SALARY. IF THE SALARY WAS SAY $40,000.00 THE FRIST YEAR AND WERE TALKING 700 COPS ON THIS THEN THAT MEANS HE WAS STEALING $30,000.00 X 700 COPS FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF HIRE. THAT AMOUNTS TO HIS STEALING $21,000,000.00 OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THE PHANTOM POLICE. I'LL BET HIS SO-CALLED COMPUTOR SYSTEM THAT HE BOUGHT FROM RADIO SHACK COST ABOUT $1200.00.

Swimmer · 11-17-2005, 12:18 PM

NAGIN DIDN'T GRAB THAT KIND OF CASH WITHOUT THE GOVERNOR BEING IN ON IT.

Skip N · 11-17-2005, 12:25 PM

Liberal media bias there is no liberal media bias.

The Dad Fisherman · 11-17-2005, 01:11 PM

You guys DO Realize this is a fake story....Don't you?

NaCl H2O · 11-17-2005, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

You guys DO Realize this is a fake story....Don't you?

Don't tell me Dan Rather and Mable Mapes have been at it again...

JohnR · 11-18-2005, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip N

Liberal media bias there is no liberal media bias.

There is a liberal media bias, though not as pronounced as purported to be.

There are Left Wing Whackos

There are Right Wing Whackos

Some Right Wing Whackos, ala Limbaugh, promote stories that often turn out not to be true, and in hindsight it is called "entertainment".

Left wing whackos, ala Rhandy Rhodes, ring a fair amount of BS as well. And people eat this stuff up - from both wings. People believe this stuff, almost on a blind faith since such and such said it was true. I listen to both sides and hear so much unfiltered bullcrap - it makes me sick...

I'm dying to hear an HONEST person that evaluates the TRUTH and not a platform or an agenda. Anyone know of an HONEST program that discusses the issues? I like listening to Ed Schultz - a little left but seems mostly honest...