New Orleans – The Louisiana National Guard is set to complete its eight‑month presence in the city at the end of August. The final patrol was conducted Monday, and the remaining 120 soldiers will be withdrawn by Aug. 31, according to Lt. Col. Noel Collins, the Guard’s spokesperson.
Why the Guard was deployed
In late December, Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican and staunch ally of President Trump, requested a deployment of 350 Guard members to bolster public safety in the French Quarter ahead of New Year’s celebrations. The request was approved by President Trump, following similar high‑profile Guard missions the administration authorized in other Democrat‑led cities such as Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tennessee.
The deployment was originally intended to end after Mardi Gras in February, but a scaled‑down force was kept on the streets through August to maintain a visible security presence in the city’s most frequented tourist district.
Impact on the community
During the mission, Guard troops conducted more than 4,000 patrols and assisted local law‑enforcement agencies with 171 arrests. Both Mayor Helena Moreno, a Democrat who initially opposed the Guard’s presence, and Governor Landry praised the soldiers for their contribution to public safety. Moreno said she was “incredibly grateful to the men and women of the Louisiana National Guard,” while Landry highlighted the training benefits for the troops, noting the mission provided “readiness training that they otherwise would not have experienced.”
Violent crime in New Orleans has been on a downward trend for several years, mirroring national patterns reported by the city’s police department. The Guard’s presence was credited with helping maintain that decline during a period of heightened tourist activity.
Historical context
National Guard deployments are not new to New Orleans. The state’s soldiers were briefly stationed for the Super Bowl and again for Mardi Gras earlier this year. The current deployment, however, marks the longest continuous Guard presence in the city’s recent history.
As the Guard prepares to leave, local officials and community leaders are reflecting on the partnership between state troops and municipal law‑enforcement agencies that helped keep the French Quarter safe for residents and visitors alike.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
