The Mystery of the Missing Police -- Solved

FOXnews is reporting that approximately one-third of New Orleans police are still missing -- down from 40% during the peak emergency. Nobody knows where they are or even if they are still alive. They just never reported in. Among those who did report, several resigned rather than participate in the restoration of order, others refused to leave the station houses because it was dangerous out there. Others simply walked away. Two committed suicide.

This was total institutional breakdown and it was most probably responsible for many of the problems that plagued relief efforts during the first critical days of the catastrophe. The performance of the NOPD has been so incredibly inadequate that it beggars description. When they were needed most, these men hunkered down and refused to go "because it was dangerous out there."

Now we hear that the remaining officers are so traumatized by their experience that they are being given paid vacations in Los Vegas and Atlanta to compensate.

Wha'? What happened here?

Mystery solved.

Now there is an LSU psychiatrist giving a TV news conference talking about how stressful this experience has been for the police officers, because "they care so much" about protecting people. Another therapist is saying that there has been more trauma in police department than "has ever been seen in this country." Both have been working closely with the police and fire departments for years. The psychiatrist describes the policemen as "courageous and strong" but tremendously stressed, and very much in need of therapy.

I think we've identified the problem right here. This is the theraputic society at it's worst. I remember reading an essay last year about how the policeman on the corner was a traditional image of American masculinity, there to protect and serve the community -- one that has faded from our culture. It certainly has in New Orleans. And the comparison, possibly unfair, is irresistable. The New York police and fire departments did not flinch when facing danger on 9/11. They went out and did their jobs and many of them died and the survivors were as thoroughly stressed as any people ever have been, and they didn't need vacations in Vegas to compensate for their experiences, and they didn't send psychiatrists out to talk for them.

Faugh!

The mayor is now saying that the next major operation will be to start to "cycle" police and firemen out to Los Vegas and Atlanta. Some people have questioned whether it's appropriate to send them off to a "party town." The mayor's response -- "New Orleans is a party town, so get over it!" I suppose that means something, but I'll be damned if I can decipher his meaning.

The police will go to Baton Rouge first for psychological evaluation. The mayor is now thanking the people who put together the Vegas package. The stressed officers will be given cash in hand, free rooms, free restaurants, free shows, free entertainment, and a daily stipend to spend however they want.

The mayor is now thanking the military and the "John Wayne dude" for taking care of things.

So let's get this straight. The NOPD refused to take action during and immediately after the emergency. A significant number simply went AWOL. As a result people suffered and died -- lots of them. These men failed in their basic mission to protect and serve. No, they didn't fail -- they didn't even try to do their duty. And now that the military has come in and restored order and evacuated people and delivered essential relief supplies while the NOPD sat and watched, they decide that they are stressed and deserve a Vegas vacationto decompress.

So, the mystery of the missing police is solved. They just needed a little down time to get their heads straight. They'll get back in touch when they're feeling better.

That's life and death in the party town.

AAAARRRRGGGGH!

RELATED:

Mark Steyn, the funniest guy on the net, and possibly the wisest -- certainly he has the best musical taste -- has a nice piece on Katrina out today that makes some of the points I was trying to get at above, but he does it much better.

He writes:

Unlike 9/11, when the cult of victimhood was temporarily suspended in honour of the many real, actual victims under the rubble, in New Orleans everyone claimed the mantle of victim, from the incompetent mayor to the "oppressed" guys wading through the water with new DVD players under each arm.

Welfare culture is bad not just because, as in Europe, it's bankrupting the state, but because it enfeebles the citizenry, it erodes self-reliance and resourcefulness.

New Orleans is a party town in the middle of a welfare swamp and, like many parties, it doesn't look so good when someone puts the lights up.

Read the whole thing here. It's worth your time.

He refers to Mayor Nagin as the "anti-Giuliani" and the "Mayor Culpa" [I particularly like that last one].