NEW ORLEANS -
After all the NOPD indictments, the city's top cop is working to rebuild trust in his department. Tonight, Chief Ronal Serpas and his officers hit the streets to meet neighbors in hopes of fighting crime.
Willie "Marzuq" Johnson came back to the 9th Ward after 37 years. "I came here to help rebuild. My goal is to make movies here and employ people in New Orleans," he says.
But last week, Marzuq became a victim. "Unfortunately, the Friday before last, someone decided to come in my house and steal my computer."
That's why he's walking the streets with NOPD Chief Ronal Serpas, Mayor Mitch Landrieu and a large group of other people in a crime walk. Serpas and his district chiefs are walking the beat meeting neighbors across the city. "The community has to trust the police if the police departments ever going to be effective. We can't arrest our way out of the crime problem. It's got to be a partnership between the community and police and this is just one move in that direction," says Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
Marzuq and others agree, saying more people need to get involved. "The citizens seem like they're afraid to unite together and come out and stand up against crime. And they don't realize when they're not standing up and showing up to stand up against crime, they're literally letting crime happen," he says.
He's encouraged by the turnout, and is hoping to see better days for his hometown. "I'm not ready to die. I'm ready to fight and see it through."
Willie "Marzuq" Johnson came back to the 9th Ward after 37 years. "I came here to help rebuild. My goal is to make movies here and employ people in New Orleans," he says.
But last week, Marzuq became a victim. "Unfortunately, the Friday before last, someone decided to come in my house and steal my computer."
That's why he's walking the streets with NOPD Chief Ronal Serpas, Mayor Mitch Landrieu and a large group of other people in a crime walk. Serpas and his district chiefs are walking the beat meeting neighbors across the city. "The community has to trust the police if the police departments ever going to be effective. We can't arrest our way out of the crime problem. It's got to be a partnership between the community and police and this is just one move in that direction," says Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
Marzuq and others agree, saying more people need to get involved. "The citizens seem like they're afraid to unite together and come out and stand up against crime. And they don't realize when they're not standing up and showing up to stand up against crime, they're literally letting crime happen," he says.
He's encouraged by the turnout, and is hoping to see better days for his hometown. "I'm not ready to die. I'm ready to fight and see it through."
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