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Guard to stay through June

Section: Community

Staff Reports

Days before he is slated to take office, Gov.-elect Bobby Jindal pledged Tuesday a final extension of the special National Guard troop deployment in New Orleans.

The troops will continue aiding the New Orleans Police Department in patrolling the rebuilding city through June, the end of the current fiscal year, said Jindal's spokeswoman, Melissa Sellers.

The Guard's 300-member military task force has been active in the city since Gov. Kathleen Blanco approved Mayor Ray Nagin's request for assistance in July 2006, amid a wave of violent crime that peaked with the slaying of five teens in a single incident.

The Guard's assignment was scheduled to end when Blanco leaves office next week.

Police Superintendent Warren Riley said Wednesday that the new governor's decision to extend the Guard's stay will allow the NOPD's police academy time to graduate at least two more classes of recruits. That could mean at least 100 more officers ready to report for duty by the time the guard pulls out, he said.

"It will give us enough time to put a sufficient force on the street," Riley said.

Riley had asked that the troops remain in the city through the summer, typically the busiest season for violent crime. Months ago the City Council passed a resolution urging Jindal to keep the current complement of state and federal support in the city until June.

About 60 State Police troopers had been assisting local law enforcement in fighting crime; they were removed in recent months.

The NOPD currently has about 1,429 officers on its force, with about 84 on sick or injury leave. Riley has said his goal is to bolster the force to 1,700 officers.

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