The Louisiana National Guard is ending its eight-month deployment in New Orleans, with plans to withdraw troops next week.
Mayor Helena Moreno confirmed the Guard’s last day of operations in New Orleans is Monday, August 24, and its last day in the city is Monday, August 31.
“The Guard has always been an integral part of major events like Mardi Gras, working alongside our public safety agencies to keep our city safe,” Moreno said in a statement. “We thank every Guard member and their families for their service and sacrifice, and we look forward to continuing to work together for years to come.”
Gov. Jeff Landry requested 1,000 National Guard members to New Orleans in December to assist local law enforcement in fighting crime.
“Violent crime is causing citizens not to feel safe in their communities,” he said at the time.
However, at the time, New Orleans was — and still is — seeing a decrease in violent crime. Public safety officials said the city’s crime rate hasn’t seen such a decline in more than 50 years.
City officials had also requested a heavier federal presence during events such as New Year’s, the Sugar Bowl and Mardi Gras.
President Donald Trump agreed to send 350 National Guard troops to New Orleans later that month. The deployment was fully funded through federal dollars, but under state command.
The Guard's initial deployment was supposed to run through February, with plans to leave after Mardi Gras, but that was later extended to August.
