New Cadet Class Next Month As NOPD Works To Shore Up Sagging Numbers

The New Orleans Police Department should ideally have 1,500 officers, but may drop below 900 within a few weeks.

The nonprofit New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation works to draw qualified candidates to the department.

So far this year, there have been about 2,000 applications, compared to 2,600 for all of last year.

A spokesperson says next month's recruit class may have 35 or 40 cadets.

Still, the foundation and the NOPD have agreed not to renew the recruitment agreement when it expires at the end of July.