HLS 24RS-367 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 398
BY REPRESENTATIVE HILFERTY
LAW ENFORCEMENT: Provides relative to the authority of New Orleans City Park Police
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 33:4558.1, relative to the New Orleans City Park Police; to provide for the
3 authority, duties, commissioning, and training of the New Orleans City Park Police;
4 to provide for the administration of the New Orleans City Park Police; and to provide
5 for related matters.
6 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
7 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
8 Louisiana.
9Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 33:4558.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 ยง4558.1. Authority of New Orleans City Park Police
12 A.(1) Those persons who are employed as officers by New Orleans City Park
13 or a nonprofit manager of New Orleans City Park and are responsible for
14 maintaining general order and exercising police power within the jurisdiction of New
15 Orleans City Park shall be designated as City Park police officers.
16 (2) Each person named as a police officer by the president and chief
17 executive officer of City Park shall be commissioned as a City Park police officer
18 by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections or as provided in Subsection E
19 of this Section. The commission shall remain in force and in effect at the pleasure
20 of City Park Conservancy or the nonprofit manager of New Orleans City Park.
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1 (3) While in or out of uniform, the police officers shall have the right to
2 carry concealed weapons and to exercise the power of arrest when discharging their
3 duties within the grounds and jurisdiction of New Orleans City Park and on all
4 streets, roads, and rights-of-way to the extent they are within or contiguous to the
5 perimeter of City Park. In the discharge of their duties on City Park grounds and
6 while in pursuit on City Park grounds, each City Park police officer may exercise the
7 power of arrest.
8 (4) Each City Park police officer shall execute a bond in the amount of ten
9 thousand dollars in favor of the state for the faithful performance of their duties. The
10 premium on the bond shall be paid by City Park.
11 B. Any person arrested by a City Park police officer, in the exercise of the
12 power granted pursuant to Paragraph (A)(3) of this Section, shall be immediately
13 transferred by the officer to the custody of the Orleans Parish Sheriff.
14 C. All fines and fees generated through the enforcement of New Orleans City
15 Park rules shall be retained by City Park or the non-profit manager of New Orleans
16 City Park.
17 D. No person shall be commissioned as a City Park police officer, unless
18 prior to such commissioning the person has, as a minimum requirement, completed
19 and graduated from the six-week program of the Basic Law Enforcement Training
20 Academy of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College or
21 possesses equivalent training or experience.
22 E. Upon authorization by the chief executive officer of New Orleans City
23 Park, a City Park police officer shall have authority to discharge his duties off New
24 Orleans City Park grounds as follows:
25 (1) When transporting an arrested person in furtherance of duties as set forth
26 in this Section.
27 (2) When transporting money, securities, or other valuables on behalf of
28 New Orleans City Park.
29 (3) When engaging in intelligence gathering related to performance of duties.
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HB NO. 398
1 (4) When investigating a crime committed on City Park grounds.
2 (5) While providing security or protective services for visiting dignitaries,
3 honored guests or executives on or off City Park grounds.
4 E. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Section to the contrary, City
5 Park police officers may also be commissioned by the city's police department, rather
6 than the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, upon complying with the
7 requirements and regulations as may be prescribed by the city's police department
8 for the commissioning of special officers. Any commissions issued by the city's
9 police department shall confer upon such City Park police officers all rights and
10 privileges as are enumerated in this Section with respect to officers commissioned
11 through and by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections; provided that such
12 officers shall not be entitled to supplemental pay for municipal police officers.
13 F. Each person who is employed as a full-time City Park police officer shall
14 complete a sexual assault awareness training program as provided by the Council on
15 Peace Officer Standards and Training pursuant to R.S. 40:2405.8.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 398 Original 2024 Regular Session Hilferty
Abstract: Establishes the New Orleans City Park Police.
Proposed law provides for the powers, duties, and jurisdiction of City Park police officers.
Proposed law provides that each person named as a police officer by the president and chief
executive officer of City Park shall be commissioned as a City Park police officer by the
Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C). Provides further that City Park police
officers may also be commissioned by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD).
Proposed law provides that City Park police officers shall have the right to carry concealed
weapons and to exercise the power of arrest within the grounds and jurisdiction of New
Orleans City Park and on all streets, roads, and rights-of-way to the extent they are within
or contiguous to the perimeter of New Orleans City Park, whether in uniform or out of
uniform.
Proposed law provides that each police officer shall execute a bond in the amount of $10,000
in favor of the state for the faithful performance of their duties and the premium on the bond
shall be paid by New Orleans City Park.
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Proposed law requires that prior to commissioning as a City Park police officer, a person
shall complete and graduate from the six-week program of the Basic Law Enforcement
Training Academy of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
unless the person possesses equivalent training or experience.
Proposed law provides that all fines and fees generated through the enforcement of New
Orleans City Park rules shall be retained by New Orleans City Park or the non-profit
manager of New Orleans City Park.
Proposed law provides five circumstances where a City Park police officer, if authorized by
the chief executive officer of New Orleans City Park, may discharge his duties off the
grounds of New Orleans City Park. Those circumstances are:
(1)When transporting prisoners in furtherance of duties as set forth in this Section.
(2)When transporting money, securities, or other valuables on behalf of New Orleans
City Park.
(3)When engaging in intelligence gathering related to performance of duties.
(4)When investigating a crime committed on New Orleans City Park grounds.
(5)While providing security or protective services for visiting dignitaries, honored
guests or executives on or off New Orleans City Park grounds.
Proposed law requires each person employed as a full-time City Park police officer to
complete a sexual assault awareness training program as provided by the Council on Peace
Officer Standards and Training pursuant to R.S. 40:2405.8.
(Adds R.S. 33:4558.1)
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