For the second time in a week, the New Orleans Police Department and the City are facing a federal lawsuit over the killing of a citizen by a police officer. The family of Wendell Allen, who was killed by an officer while standing unarmed and shirtless in his mother's Gentilly home on March 7, 2012, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit this week against the NOPD, the City and the officer who shot the 20-year-old.

The family of a man killed by New Orleans Police Department officers last year following a Mid-City traffic stop filed a civil rights lawsuit in federal court this week. Earl Sipp III and Earl Sipp Jr. are claiming unspecified damages for the the death of 20-year-old Justin Sipp, who was shot early on the morning of March 1, 2012, at the corner of N. Bernadotte St. and Toulouse St.

by Shay Sokol

Late last week, the NOPD delivered its fact-finding report on the police-involved killing of Justin Sipp to the District Attorney’s office, a day after they delivered their report on the police-involved killing of Wendell Allen.  Almost two months ago, both Sipp, 20, and Allen, 20, were shot and killed by NOPD officers in separate incidents over a one-week span in early March.

by Shay Sokol

When Roy Pennington, 56, heard that three city monuments were vandalized this week, he immediately thought about the hundred thousand people coming in for Final Four weekend. “I was angry. People will see this, our city defaced. I don’t think so. Not if I can help it,” said Pennington, the owner of Hi-Pressure Cleaning Systems in Houma and Harvey.

By Shay Sokol

Community members have been up in arms following the NOPD killings of Justin Sipp and Wendell Allen earlier this month. What started as families picketing outside City Hall and NOPD Headquarters demanding justice for their sons has turned into vandalistic protest last night. Three public monuments - Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, and the White League statues - were graffitied, respectively, with “For Trayvon Martin,” “For Justin Sipp,” and “For Wendell Allen,” and splashed with paint. 

By Shay Sokol

At 3 p.m. today, Officer Jason Giroir – the man behind the “thug” comment - resigned after Public Integrity Bureau Chief Arlinda Westbrook notified him that allegations of misconduct against him stuck, and that NOPD Chief Ronal Serpas called for a pre-termination hearing for Giroir. Giroir posted the online comment on wwltv.com referring to Trayvon Martin. “Act like a Thug Die like one!” he wrote Sunday.

by Shay Sokol

In the wake of an NOPD officer's rapid suspension for posting comments calling Trayvon Martin a "thug," Mayor Mitch weighed in, and Giroir's past came into clearer focus. “The people of New Orleans and my Administration will not tolerate this reckless and offensive behavior,” Mayor Landrieu said in a statement yesterday.

Being too loose with the online comments apparently isn't restricted to the U.S Attorney's office and those who take the name of a famous writer. One of the NOPD officers who was involved in the shootout that ended with two cops wounded and Justin Sipp dead is under internal investigation for posting incindiary comments about the Trayvon Martin case on the WWL-TV's website. NOPD Chief Ronal Serpas held a press conference at NOPD Headquarters today to announce that Giroir is suspended indefinitely from the force, and that the Public Integrity Bureau will conduct an investigation into Giroir’s comments.