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Strained New Orleans Police Force Dealing With Mardi Gras; Senate Hearing On Port Deal

Aired February 28, 2006 - 14:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it's not easy being a cop, even in a city called the Big Easy, even before Katrina. After Katrina it was like being in a war zone.

Now police are on the front lines again, facing Mardi Gras with far fewer officers and less money for overtime. Still, the chief says they can handle just about anything.

Superintendent Warren Riley joins me from Royal Sonesta Hotel on Bourbon Street. Chief, good to see you.

SUPT. WARREN RILEY, NEW ORLEANS POLICE: Nice seeing you.

PHILLIPS: Well, you're quite famous there in New Orleans for crowd control. I remember seeing the motorcycles, the mounted unit, roll out every year. It's like a ballet, how this is orchestrated. Did you have the power to do what you needed to do this year? And how did you strategize?

RILEY: Yes, we did. We have, again, over 1,490 police officers, state troopers -- 150 state troopers, some federal agents. So we had a sufficient force. We didn't change our plans very much from what we've done over the past two years. Things have worked out great. It really has.

PHILLIPS: What were some of the challenges, Chief? Did you have a lot of folks acting up like in previous years or do you think it was a little more mellow this year around?

RILEY: Actually, it's been a little more mellow. The crowds have been significant but not as large as in the past, probably about 70 percent of what we're used to. But they've been well-behaved. Our arrests are down probably by at least 50 or 60 percent. We've had zero major incidents. Things have gone extremely well.

PHILLIPS: Well, let's have a reality check on the force. A lot of stuff happened even before Katrina hit. There were issues at hand with regard to the police force, and then you had some serious challenges during Katrina.

Let's start with the officers that fled duty during the hurricane. Have you been able to hold those officers accountable, or have you basically cut them off and moved on? RILEY: No, we've actually had separations, 147 separations as it relates to Katrina, either terminations by abandonment or resigning under investigation for abandonment. So we have 147 officers that are no longer with us as a result of Katrina.

The rest of the force was here. Ninety-one percent of the force was here doing what they needed to do and what they were supposed to do.

PHILLIPS: And the officers, of course, that you were tracking for the looting, the ones that were caught on videotape, have you been able to hold those officers accountable, Chief?

RILEY: Yes, we have. And those cases, some of them are completed. The investigations are complete. But we haven't had the hearings. We put the abandonments first. We did suspend about seven people for ten days but not for looting but for neglect of duty.

Some of them were in the stores. Some of them did, in fact, take items but with permissions of the owners of those businesses. What they did not do is stop other people from looting -- that were in there presence from looting items that were not essential.

PHILLIPS: Chief, how are you tackling the overtime issue? A lot of men and women waiting to receive pay for overtime. How are you working out the funding so all those officers that stayed on the job continue to stay on the job? As a matter of fact, they're right behind you down there on the streets keeping the peace. How are you compensating them?

RILEY: Well, the officers are being paid overtime. We have run it on less. Normally, Mardi Gras costs us between $3 million and $3.2 million. This year we're running it off about $1.2 million. The fact that we only had eight days of parades as opposed to 11 days helped our overtime situation out tremendously, and the fact that we have better orchestrated parades so they finish quicker.

So we're -- right now, as of last night, we spent about 545,000 of the $1.2 million. So we had a little bit over half a million dollars remaining for today. So we're doing very well.

PHILLIPS: Chief, last week I called a couple of friends of mine on the force, and they were excited to be able to get back involved with Mardi Gras and go over to Children's Hospital and spend time with the kids.

I know that so many of you have been active in various charities during Mardi Gras. Have you been able to get involved at all with a charity and been able to do that yourself? And has the department been able to get involved with Mardi Gras on that respect?

RILEY: When you say get involved with Mardi Gras, I didn't hear you. What exactly do you mean by getting involved with Mardi Gras?

PHILLIPS: The charities, Chief. I was talking to some of your officers, you know, that every year get involved with going over To Children's Hospital, they were able to do that. Have you been able to get involved with any of these charities and other members of the department?

RILEY: Well, some of the members on their did in fact get involved with some charities, but the NOPD as an organization, we weren't able to do that like we have in the past, but some officers on their own did get involved with charities.

PHILLIPS: That's good to hear. All right. What's next, Chief? It's Mardi Gras, it's Fat Tuesday. It's almost over. You've got a lot on your plate this year.

RILEY: Well, it's not over for us. Tomorrow, of course, we have to worry about getting apartments and housing for all of our officers. All of us have to be off the ship by 7:00 p.m. tomorrow night.

Those things seem to be working out well. That's our next challenge. And after that, we get back to crime fighting and reorganizing the department.

PHILLIPS: Are you going to be able to get those officers off that ship and into homes?

RILEY: We're pretty sure we are. We're working on it very diligently with FEMA. Right now things look very well, very good. We'll know tomorrow morning by 7:00.

PHILLIPS: Well, and I know the foundation is working hard to raise money as well, the Police Foundation there in New Orleans. Police Chief Warren Riley, thanks for your time, sir.

RILEY: Thank you. Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Well, stay with LIVE FROM for continuing coverage of Mardi Gras. Next hour I'm going to speak with New Orleans entertainer Chris Owens. If you've never seen her, you don't want to miss this.

And just because you have to work doesn't mean you have to miss a minute of Mardi Gras action. Watch all the festivities right at your desk, CNN Pipeline. We'll have a live Webcam on Bourbon Street, and it's free all day today. Mardi Gras to remember. Coverage you'll only find on CNN.

Rough seas in Washington, where a Senate hearing is underway on the deal to put a Middle Eastern company at the helm of six U.S. ports. CNN's Ed Henry has more now from the Hill. What's it like today, Ed?

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, it's interesting. This is the Senate Commerce Committee, and they're meeting today, kicking off this hearing focusing on port security in general, this deal in particular.

And what's interesting is we're seeing in advance of this hearing today the Bush administration, from the president on down, really digging in their heels. Today the Homeland Security secretary, Michael Chertoff, was at a separate Congressional hearing as well as the director of national intelligence, John Negroponte, both saying look, there's no security problem here, this deal is fine.

But that's not quieting Republican critics like Senator Susan Collins. As you know, yesterday she revealed that there was this Coast Guard document raising some concerns about the deal on security grounds, back in December.

The president today, as well as other officials, insisting that there's no security problem. And the president really came out swinging and reiterated his support for the deal. Take a listen.

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GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My message to the Congress, and I appreciate the fact that the companies concerned have asked the Congress for a review of all the security implications. Let me make something clear to the American people. If there was any doubt in my mind or people in my administration's mind that our reports would be less secure and the American people in danger, this deal wouldn't go forward.

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HENRY: But Senator Collins says that she thinks that after this 45-day review, the administration may come up with a different view of exactly whether or not to approve this deal, in part because she believes that the initial process was flawed -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: I'm sure the Democrats are playing this politically as well.

HENRY: Yes, well, the bottom line is the Democrats are enjoying every minute of watching the president spar with fellow Republicans like Collins. Originally with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist last week, who now, though, appears to be coming along with the administration's position. And also Democrats trying to milk this for all it's worth politically.

I mean, look at one of the lead Democrats here, is Chuck Schumer from New York. A port city, no doubt. But he's also in charge of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, charged with trying to elect more Democrats in the midterm elections this November. Today he came out and charged that he has anonymous sources telling him that it was not just the Coast Guard raising concerns. Also the Border Protection Service, as well as the Customs service.

Take a listen to what he had to say.

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SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: The investigation that doesn't get to the bottom, that is not made public, at least in its non-classified parts, I don't think is going to satisfy people. I've talked to a number of my Republican colleagues today, and they're more concerned than they were a few days ago because of the Coast Guard report.

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HENRY: And what Schumer's referring to is he does have some Republicans on board for legislation that would make sure that Congress has the final say on this, not just the president, which is what is called for right now. Obviously, the White House does not want that legislation. We saw the veto threat from the president last week, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Ed Henry on the Hill. I know you'll stay on the story.

HENRY: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Thank you so much. We're going to get straight to the newsroom now. Tony Harris working a developing story for us -- Tony.

TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra.

This is a situation we're going to keep our eyes on here. It's a HAZMAT situation. And sulfuric acid is the chemical involved, and it may be leaking from a truck. Where are we here? This is Mount Peron (ph) Road in Atlanta, just off Interstate 75. Atlanta fire is on the scene. A HAZMAT team is also on the scene.

We can tell you that a decontamination tent has been set up a short distance away from the truck. People in a half-mile radius of the church that you will see there right there at the center of the screen -- this is a huge church -- have been evacuated.

And in case you're wondering, sulfuric acid, this is nothing to play with. It is a highly corrosive, oily liquid. It is used in fertilizers, paints, detergents, and you can find it in car batteries. If you inhale it, it can cause severe respiratory irritation. If you swallow some of it, it can cause severe irritation of the mouth, the throat, esophagus and stomach. It can ulcer your skin, damage your cornea, cause blindness.

So it's nothing to mess with, which is why Atlanta Fire and HAZMAT are being very careful with it. Kyra, we will continue to watch this story and we'll bring you updates and developments.

PHILLIPS: All right, Tony, thank you so much.

HARRIS: Sure. Sure thing.

PHILLIPS: Size doesn't matter, at least not when you're this cute. Remember McGruff? Here comes Midge, the crime dog. Meet Ohio's smallest deputy later on LIVE FROM.

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PHILLIPS: Well, I want to run, I want to hide, I want to tear down walls that hold me inside. I want to reach out and touch the flame where the streets have no name. Wait, that's U2. Well, our story is about streets that have names, names like Psycho Path. This private lane in Michigan won first prize in the carconnection.com street names contest. Second place went to Divorce Court. It's part of a charming neighborhood in Heather Highlands, Pennyslvania. And how about intersections? Well, Albany, Georgia's crossroad of Lonesome and Hardup just calls out for a country song, doesn't it?

Time to get a smidge of Midge. Two pounds of crime-stopping power on track to bust the bad guys in Ohio. Michael O'Mara of our affiliate WKYC at headquarters with this pint-size animal adventure.

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MICHAEL O'MARA, WKYC REPORTER: For the last seven years, there's been one top dog in the Geauga County Sheriff's Department: Brutus, the big German Shepherd has been the go-to canine.

But that's about to change. Here comes "Midge," two pounds of raw recruit police power, a 3-month-old miniature Chihuahua with a little Rat Terrier mixed in, who has one major talent right now.

SHERIFF DAN MCLELLAND, GEAUGA COUNTY: Cute. She is cute. She's little. She's very friendly. She likes people a lot."

O'MARA: Midge, in her little uniform, is already patrolling the hallways at the county jail and the sheriff has plans to train her as the smallest drug dog in the state of Ohio.

MCLELLAND: I had this idea that I've toyed with for a few years that -- why couldn't a small dog be used just as well?

SHERIFF CARRIE JERICHO, GEAUGA COUNTY: She watches. Every time somebody walks in the room, you know, her ears perk up and she kind of watches who's coming in."

O'MARA: So far Brutus, who obviously has a sense of humor, has taken to the new tiny trainee. And the department's K-9 trainer thinks Midge has a bright future.

LT. TOM MCCAFFREY, GEAUGA CO. K-9 DEPUTY: I know from my work that kids and dogs get the people's hearts.

O'MARA: Even on her tiptoes, Midge is only two feet high.

MCLELLAND: No. You won't -- she's not going to strike fear into a whole lot of folks.

O'MARA (on camera): But that's ok.

MCLELLAND: That's not her job.

O'MARA: OK, so the only time Midge is going to take somebody down is if they're already lying down, but the cuteness factor is really, really high.

In Geaugu County, I'm Mike O'Mara with the Midge the sheriff's dog. Good girl. (END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, Mardi Gras in Iraq. Some U.S. troops getting a rare chance to let down their guard. We're going to show you how they're celebrating.

The news keeps coming. We'll keep bringing it to you. Second line parade through Baghdad, next on LIVE FROM.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Listen up. What we're here to do today is to celebrate the Mardi Gras celebration in the city of New Orleans. First I want walk my king and queen, king and queen of the Krewe of Cottonmouth. OK, this is one of the few times of the year you're authorized to have a good time in a war zone. So enjoy it.

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PHILLIPS: Well, Baghdad is a long way from Bourbon Street, but they've got the music and at least some of the moves. U.S. soldiers are enjoying a bit of Mardi Gras today at Camp Victory, complete with beads and all. Not something you normally see flying from a humvee in Iraq.

Many Christians call today Shrove Tuesday, the word "shrove" from the old English verb to shrive, meaning absolve. In the Middle Ages, people would seek out priests to be absolved of their sins before Lent. Nowadays, some also consider this Pancake Tuesday for the feast before fasting. The term Mardi Gras you know, of course. But you may not know how it all started.

CNN's Anderson Cooper fills us in.

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(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: (voice-over): It is a celebration like no other, colorful and crazy, the street party of all street parties, the all-out revelry before the onset of a solemn religious season.

The phenomenon that is New Orleans' Mardi Gras is steeped in centuries of history. Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is more than just a one-day event. It marks the end of the Carnival season that starts with Twelfth Night on January 6 and the beginning of Lent, a definite end to the debauchery before it's time to fast and pray.

TOM PIAZZA, AUTHOR, "WHY NEW ORLEANS MATTERS": What it really was, was a day when everybody in the city was, in a sense, tuned to the same frequency. In other words, everybody in the city kind of agrees for a day to just go with whatever happens. COOPER: The party first came to Louisiana in 1699, brought here by two brothers fighting for France's claim to the territory. It started as a series of balls. But, soon, the partiers began parading through the streets, and the crowds grew bigger to bigger. To help bring order to the chaos, they called in the krewes.

PIAZZA: Most of those krewes are made up of the city's economic and social elite. They're business people. They're real estate people, lawyers, professional people, what have you.

COOPER: The Cowbellion de Rakin Society was first in 1830. They became the Mystic Krewe of Comus in 1857. And they were eventually joined by other krewes with equally interesting names, Momus, Proteus, Hermes, Endymion, the Krewe d'Etat, and the Krewe du Vieux, each holding its own parade in a different part of town.

And then there are the Indians.

PIAZZA: Mardi Gras Indians are working-class African-American who masquerade as Indians every year on Mardi Gras. And they spend months sewing these extraordinary, lavish and fanciful, beautiful costumes.

COOPER: There is at least one parade a day for the two weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday, complete with colorful beads, marching jazz bands, and families lining the route.

The celebration has its own colors, purple, green and gold, and it even has an official song.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): If I ever I cease to love...

COOPER: There have been times when main Mardi Gras parades have been canceled because of weather or to protest laws that try to tone down the rowdy celebrations, but not this year, not in the year after Katrina crushed the city that care forgot.

This year, many New Orleanians say Mardi Gras must go on.

PIAZZA: For real New Orleanians, to cancel Mardi Gras, or to not to have Mardi Gras, would be inconceivable. It would be like not having New Year's or something.

Anderson Cooper, CNN, New Orleans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And our live coverage of Mardi Gras continues. I'll speak with entertainer Chris Owens (ph). Here she comes. There it is. Part of her famous performance. You won't want to miss this interview, live from Brookman (ph) Street. Stay with us.

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