Community Policing specialist. The city Ok'ed a three month review of the NOPD by Lee Brown of Houston, a community policing expert, to reform the police force working in partnership with Warren Riley. The guy has the credentials. Brown was Mayor of Houston from 1998-2004, and had previously served as Houston Chief of Police from 1982-1990, New York Police Commissioner 1990-92, National Drug Czar in 1993. The three month contact is being paid for by the New Orleans Business Council, the Greater New Orleans Foundation, the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau and Baptist Community Ministries.

Former Houston Mayor and Police Chief Lee Brown and his consulting company will shortly begin evaluating the New Orleans Police Department and developing a plan on how to improve the relationship between police and residents of crime-ridden neighborhoods.

At a news conference Friday, the day after an unprecedented anti-crime rally outside City Hall, Brown said he will begin a three-and-a-half month assessment of the NOPD immediately. Brown and NOPD Superintendent Warren Riley characterized Brown's role as a partnership with the city's chief.

Times Picayune 1/15/7

Its not all rosy as Brown has been involved in controversy but not for being ineffective. James Gill in a scathing editorial claims Brown's greatest talent has been his timing on when to get out. The implied commitment to Community Policing is a positive step for the city. The last time it was tried, under Chief Pennington, it paid rewards.