Louisiana State Police Unite Brothers & Badges

By Nadra Enzi —— Bio and Archives May 12, 2015

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Yesterday, I was the sole non-pastor invitee at what I call a brothers & badges together meeting held by Mike Edmunson, the Louisiana State Police Superintendent.

Frank discussion centered upon how this year-long State Police deployment to augment NOPD seems confined to the French Quarter- though that's not the case. NOPD's race relations problem was discussed at length with high lights including efforts to normalize relations with young Black men and increasing visibility within the inner city. I've been to many meetings with police executives who could care less about what I or any other hostage thought about his agency. Col. Edmunson radiates sincere, mutual respect for those with whom he's forging partnerships. The same way he sees all police as one is the same unity ethic brought to bear on cooling his portion of the lately over-heated cold war between Black men and police. A recurrent concern was New Orleans readiness for Baltimore-level rioting, both tactically and via relationships in place. The same way tacticians pre-position material for future conflict also applies to Edmunson's Black clergy and anti crime activist network as a support resource to mitigate times of unrest. Brothers and badges is something I've done one-on-one for years. It was very encouraging-and rare-to experience it in a roomful of stakeholders. So long as self-described " people persons " like Col. Edmunson lead major agencies, brothers & badges together finally has chance and America will be the beneficiary.