New Orleans Police And Firefighters Traumatized

[lady cop]

my heart goes out to these, the heroes :-1 -------------Mayor: Police, firefighters traumatized



Nagin said Sunday that his top priority was to start moving traumatized police and firefighters out of the city so that they can get medical and psychological treatment.

"They've been holding the city together for three or four days, almost by themselves -- doing everything imaginable, and the toll is just too much for them," Nagin said. "So I need to get them out, and we've been trying to figure out where to take them so they can reunite with their families."

Police Superintendent Eddie Compass said that two of his officers committed suicide, including one who had discovered his wife had died.

Compass also said that reports that 60 percent of the police force had deserted was "totally ridiculous.".

[chonsigirl]

Thank you LC for pointing out that those who have worked for such long hours and seen such danger and horrors are feeling it themselves. Hopefully they will get the rest and medical/psychological attention that they need!

[Clint]

I can’t imagine how fatigued and traumatized those folks must be. I hope they find a way to get them rest and to let them spend some time with their families soon.

As you well know LC, first responders have a huge burden. They have to stay with and respond to the same disaster that threatens their families, often not knowing if their family is safe or not. Everybody is depending on them to help them with their family. They help others and worry about their own at the same time. The people being helped can be very selfish and critical of the the one providing help not even thinking of the price being paid by the one helping.

We have only just begun to understand how widespread and destructive this disaster is. The critics need to shut up. They aren’t helping a thing.

[lady cop]

thanks Chonsi and Clint.... i am so upset that two officers committed suicide. and it's going to get worse because soon they will be on a body recovery mission. there will be thousands.

[chrisb84uk]

Indeed my thoughts are with all the people who have put their bodies and soul into the cleaning up from the disaster.

My dad too was a fireman and has been through many a huge blaze and seen horrific things that would give a lot of us the creeps. I know how worried I felt when their were times that he would get called out during the night to fight a fire, and be gone for hours and hours. He always made out that it was no biggy, but u could see in his eyes that he was saying that just to make us not get worried about him.

[lady cop]

bless your Dad Chris! my cousin is a miami firefighter who lost everything in hurricane andrew, and he is now in new orleans helping to rescue people. and collect bodies.

[chrisb84uk]

Thanks LC, my sympathy to your cousin. It really is amazing some of the things that the men and women who protect our countries will go through to do so. When u hear and see stories of how these people put their own lives at risk to protect others it really makes you realize how truely brave and courageous they really are.

[lady cop]

FOX just reported that police have shot 8 people on a bridge, who evidently were firing on them. i am waiting for details.

[Clint]

lady cop wrote: FOX just reported that police have shot 8 people on a bridge, who evidently were firing on them. i am waiting for details.


This is insane!! I'll be looking forward to more news.

[Clint]

Police Shoot 8 on New Orleans Bridge

Sep 04 5:03 PM US/Eastern



NEW ORLEANS



Police shot eight people carrying guns on a New Orleans bridge Sunday, killing five or six of them, a deputy chief said.

Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley said the shootings took place on the Danziger Bridge, which connects Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River.

He said he had no other details.

[chrisb84uk]

Clint wrote: Police Shoot 8 on New Orleans Bridge

Sep 04 5:03 PM US/Eastern



NEW ORLEANS



Police shot eight people carrying guns on a New Orleans bridge Sunday, killing five or six of them, a deputy chief said.

Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley said the shootings took place on the Danziger Bridge, which connects Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River.

He said he had no other details.


That's awful. That's really the last thing the people there need is for more people to die over what seems so pointless. I assume that the police were provoked in some way??

[lady cop]

:-1 :-1 :-1 -- There may be no better way to explain the desperation on the city's ravaged streets than this: In the past few days, two police officers took their own lives and dozens have turned in their badges.New Orleans Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley on Sunday identified two officers who committed suicide as Sgt. Paul Accardo, the department's spokesman, and Patrolman Lawrence Celestine. He called both "outstanding cops" and friends.

"Both of them," he said, shaking his head slowly. "Used their own guns."

Several dozen of the city's 1,600 police officers have failed to report for duty, and some have turned in their badges.

Published reports put the number as high as 200, but Riley declined to comment on those figures, saying more than 100 officers may have been trapped in their own homes or unable to reach command centers.

"We just don't know," he said, standing outside a downtown command center set up in the driveway of Harrah's casino.

But a moment later, Riley motioned back in the direction where several dozen heavily armed officers milled around, eating and smoking. He said he didn't care -- not at the moment.

"We still have at least a thousand policemen out here trying to rescue people and take back the city. I don't know what's in their minds. I don't know what gives the others out here their adrenaline, what gives them their push."

On top of the burdens of law enforcement, officers have had to forage for food and water and even for places to relieve themselves.