Mayor Mitch Landrieu welcomed a new class of police recruits and praised them for taking the challenge to don a police badge in one of the nation's most crime-plagued cities.
The new class begins its 10 months of training as crime spikes in the French Quarter and the New Orleans Police Department struggles with a shortage of officers on the streets.
Landrieu spoke to the 30 recruits today at the start of their first day of tough physical training at a training facility in eastern New Orleans.
Landrieu told the recruits it's a tough time ahead, noting the challenges police departments face in the wake of nationwide riots condemning police brutality. But he thanked them "for stepping up to the plate."
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