Violent Crime Falls Third Year in New Orleans as 350 National Guard Troops Begin Patrols

Violent crime in New Orleans fell for a third consecutive year in 2025, police officials said Monday, as 350 National Guard troops began patrolling parts of the city under orders from President Donald Trump.

The Louisiana National Guard, military police, and Louisiana law enforcement agencies patrol the French Quarter along Bourbon Street and intersecting streets as part of a National Guard deployment for New Year's celebrations in New Orleans, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

New Crime Figures

The New Orleans Police Department reported significant declines in murders, shootings, armed robberies and carjackings since 2022. The city recorded 121 murders in 2025, down from 266 in 2022; the 2025 total includes 14 victims of a vehicle-ramming attack on Jan. 1, 2025. The NOPD clarified that its "murders" count refers to criminal homicides and includes suspected homicides still under investigation, while excluding suspected suicides, accidental deaths and justifiable homicides. Suspected manslaughter is not counted as murder.

New Orleans Police Department superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick, with members of police command staff and New Orleans City Councilmember Eugene Green, far left, speaks about the city's crime statistics during a news conference at police headquarters in New Orleans, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (David Grunfeld/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

National Guard Deployment

President Trump approved Governor Jeff Landry's request to deploy 350 National Guard members to Louisiana. Troops have so far been confined to the historic French Quarter, the same area where they were deployed last year after the New Year’s Day attack. Officials say the Guard presence is intended as a deterrent rather than to make arrests or conduct criminal investigations, roles that remain the responsibility of civilian law enforcement.

New Orleans Police Department superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick, with members of police command staff and New Orleans City Councilmember Eugene Green, far left, speaks about the city's crime statistics during a news conference at police headquarters in New Orleans, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (David Grunfeld/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Local Reaction

Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said she supports the Guard's presence as a deterrent and welcomed the added support for a police department she described as understaffed, with roughly 910 officers. "The National Guard’s presence will certainly have impact," Kirkpatrick said. "We’re just grateful that crime is down, and I don’t care who gets the credit."

"If they prevent a crime by their presence, I’m all for the safety of the city, as long as it’s constitutional and ethical," Kirkpatrick added.

New Orleans' mayor-elect, Helena Moreno, initially opposed the Guard deployment but has since said she appreciates federal support for public safety during major events, including the Mardi Gras season. A spokesperson for Governor Landry said there is no final decision about expanding Guard patrols beyond the French Quarter.

Other Federal Activity and Broader Context

Separately, a federal immigration enforcement operation that began in December has deployed hundreds of federal agents in and around New Orleans. Former CIA crime analyst Jeff Asher, co-founder of AH Datalytics, said the city’s decline mirrors broader reductions in violent crime across many major U.S. cities since the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We’re generally seeing a dramatic drop in overall crime pretty much everywhere across the country," Asher said. "Declines in New Orleans are no exception."

Officials emphasize that while the Guard's presence may act as a deterrent, long-term crime reduction depends on sustained policing strategies, community engagement and criminal justice processes that include investigation and prosecution.