The New Orleans Police Department might lose access to a tool used to solve crimes.
Project NOLA, a non-profit with more than 5,000 crime cameras throughout the city questions how people’s last moments recorded on its cameras wound up on the network TV show Homicide Squad New Orleans.
A freeze frame from a Project NOLA camera shows a production company filming inside a crime scene moments after a deadly shooting. Beloved bagel shop owner Jacob Carter from Washington state, was killed in January 2024.
“It’s inexcusable,” said Bryan Lagarde, executive director of Project NOLA. “This should not be happening.”
Lagarde said 44 Blue Productions highlights NOPD homicide detectives and cases on the national show. According to Lagarde, 44 Blue asked Project NOLA to release footage from Carter’s murder. Lagarde maintains he told the production company no.
Lagarde said despite that, Project NOLA footage still appeared in other episodes of the network show.
“These are ultra high definition videos that we’re shooting. It’s people’s last moments. It’s their dying breath. It’s as the life leaves their eyes,” Lagarde said. “This is not for TV. This is specifically to help benefit investigations and to play out in court and not for entertainment purposes.”
Lagarde said he gives video to NOPD for investigations. He believes Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s office authorized NOPD to release the video without his consent to 44 Blue. Project NOLA sent a cease and desist order to the production company.
“Thankfully, we have not seen any more of our footage in the more recent airings of Homicide Squad,” Lagarde said.
Project NOLA cameras are mounted throughout the city. Lagarde says with growing concerns over privacy, he’s considering taking action against the city and NOPD.
“We may need to suspend the NOPD’s access to our entire camera program from live and playback video should this continue,” Lagarde said.
Ultimately, Lagarde wants the city council to prohibit the use of crime cameras for entertainment. He sent a letter to the council and wants an explanation from the Mayor’s office.
“We know on occasion, it will be provided to the news media. If you can help us solve this crime, call Crime Stoppers,” Lagarde said. “Those are legitimate reasons for NOPD to occasionally release a still or footage from crime cameras.”
We reached out to Mayor Cantrell’s office, NOPD and the New Orleans City Council.
44 Blue did not respond to our request for comment.
Jacob Carter’s sister, Anna said, “We have been continually traumatized and victimized by NOLA. This is further proof that the City of NOLA would rather exploit victims of crime rather than find real solutions to a glaring, broken system.”
So, if i’m understanding this (maybe not) it sounds like a modern version of COPS was filming NOPD when this murder happened?
Who actually filmed the footage? The production company or Project Nola?It looks like the company filmed after the crime but used the Project Nola footage in addition to what they filmed.
The company allegedly used Project Nola footage without Project Nola’s consent. The owner of Project Nola believes this is bc the mayor gave them her consent after the footage was obtained by the city.
I feel like this highlights the difficulty of actually controlling where this footage ends up once it’s recorded.
Again, I’m not sure how anyone can argue the government couldn’t easily demand footage from NOPD or subpoena any of this footage?
Is there any kind of contract with LSP in terms of what they’re doing with this footage when it’s handed over?
Also, given that many of these cameras are privately owned could you really make the same request that footage only be used as you ask? I’m definitely not defending the company using this footage, but I’m just not understanding how this isn’t an issue that potentially applies to NOPD, LSP, and any owner of one of these cameras that catches a crime scene?