Feministing has linked to another first-hand account from a family escaping New Orleans, this time a British family from Wallasey, who had gotten stuck because they had not brought their drivers licenses with them on their trip. Particular note was made of their observation of police misbehaviour, including an incident where police refused assistance when the girls on top of the roof trying to get help refused to flash their breasts:
"At one point, there were a load of girls on the roof of the lobby of the hotel saying 'Can you help us?' and the policemen said 'Show us what you've got' and made signs for them to lift their T-shirts."When they said no, they said 'fine' and motored off down the road in their motorboat."
As unbelievable as this may sound at first hearing, what I know about New Orleans police makes it unfortunately plausible. Louisiana is one of the more corrupt states of the union, and the New Orleans Police Department has a reputation special even inside the state. As a photographic example, despite the fact that breast-baring is technically illegal under the indecent exposure laws, the police cheerfully participate in this Mardi Gras tradition (warning, partial nudity), at least from the observing (and picture-taking) side, and as long as they get their own personal displays:
At one point I walked over to a cop who was "stationed" near where I was standing, and talked to him for a moment. He told me he was "a little upset" with me. When I asked him why, he said because I'd been flashing. He then told me he thought it would only be fair if I flashed for him.
I also recall reading a story on Usenet some time ago from a bemused visitor to one of New Orlean's many "massage spas", thinly disguised houses of prostitution, who described being patted down by a uniformed police officer checking for weapons before being told prices by the mamasan of the establishment, who obviously had a good deal going. There have also been reports, including photographs and a video capture, of New Orleans police participating in the looting after Hurricane Katrina hit. With that in mind, hearing a tale about police attempting to take advantage of the chaos for their own prurient interests is unfortunately not that much of a stretch to believe.
To be fair, I'm sure that a great many of the New Orleans police are fine, upstanding, honorable people, and many of them took great risks trying to maintain as much order as they could. Unfortunately, a uniform is no guarantee of character, and crooked cops can be worse than your garden variety criminal.
