NEW ORLEANS – After eight months of ensuring safety, the Louisiana National Guard is concluding its deployment in New Orleans, with troops scheduled to fully withdraw by the close of this month.
The last 120 troops have completed their patrols and are preparing to end their mission in New Orleans by August 31, according to Lt. Col. Noel Collins, who serves as a spokesperson for the Guard.
This deployment began in late December when 350 troops were called to bolster safety measures in the French Quarter during New Year’s festivities. This move came in the wake of a tragic incident on Bourbon Street that claimed 14 lives a year prior. Although their presence was initially meant to end post-Mardi Gras in February, a reduced number of troops continued their duties until August.
The deployment was prompted by a request from Republican Gov. Jeff Landry and received authorization from President Donald Trump. This decision followed several high-profile National Guard deployments to Democrat-led cities such as Washington and Memphis, Tennessee. However, the sight of National Guard members in New Orleans was not unfamiliar, as they had supported security efforts at both the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras earlier in the year.
Throughout their deployment, the Louisiana National Guard completed over 4,000 patrols and collaborated with local law enforcement on 171 arrests. Their operations primarily concentrated in the French Quarter, a bustling area known for drawing tourists.
Mayor Helena Moreno, a Democrat who initially opposed the guard’s deployment, said in a statement that she was “incredibly grateful to the men and women of the Louisiana National Guard.”
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Louisiana’s governor, a staunch Trump ally, said the troops’ presence had improved safety in the city.
“This mission, though temporary, allowed our great soldiers readiness training that they otherwise would not have experienced,” Landry said in a statement provided by the guard.
Violent crime in New Orleans has been declining for several years in parallel with national trends, according to data compiled by the city’s police department.
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Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
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