NEW ORLEANS - Councilmember-At-Large Jason Williams took a point of personal privilege at the top of this morning's Regular City Council Meeting after the Pledge of Allegiance to apologize to George Gomez on behalf of the City of New Orleans.

Council President Williams said, "This community suffered a major setback this week. Our collective humanity suffered this week from the actions of two men, two off-duty new police officers. Depending on who you ask, the NOPD is between 95 percent and 75 percent in complete compliance with all federal consent decree requirements. Our federal consent decree compliance is unprecedented nationally. We have gone above and beyond thanks to Chief Michael Harrison and Judge Susie Morgan. However, after a few drinks, a couple of new officers engaged in despicable, repulsive racist acts of violence against one of our fellow citizens. A good and kind man by every account. A patriot. A veteran. A good neighbor.

Mr. George Gomez, as Council President I need to publicly apologize to you on behalf of this city. I am sorry for the pain and anguish that has been inflicted on you. I understand and respect your desire to not join us today. I don't know if it would be here now either.

As chair of the Criminal Justice Committee, I need you, your family and your neighbors to know that I will be looking into the background searches conducted on former officers Galmon and Spencer. I will do my level best to make sure that our background investigations are thorough and rigorous enough to weed out persons not fit to wear the uniform. Those two officers do not represent the dedicated hard working men and women of the NOPD. What they did disparages them and us as a city. Mr. Gomez, again on behalf of the City of New Orleans, I am sorry and thank you for the service to our country."

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Media Contact:

Katie Hunter-Lowrey
Director of Communications
Councilmember Jason Rogers Williams, At-Large
kdhunter-lowrey@nola.gov