New Orleans Deploys 400+ Officers for YoungBoy Shows

The New Orleans Police Department will deploy more than 400 officers each night for NBA YoungBoy’s sold-out concerts Sunday and Monday at the 17,000-seat Smoothie King Center. The deployment includes walking beats, mounted and bicycle units, tactical teams, drones, an armored vehicle, light towers and support from state and federal partners, and may involve street closures, strict no-parking/towing enforcement and extended 12-hour shifts for many officers. The posture was prompted by intelligence after several of YoungBoy’s shows were canceled in Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta and by prior incidents at his concerts. Council President J.P. Morrell and other city officials criticized the activation, warning overtime costs will worsen New Orleans’ roughly $160 million budget deficit and arguing concert revenues will not cover the expense; ASM Global reportedly declined requests to hire officers for the event. NOPD leaders say they met with venue and promoter representatives, will monitor online activity with federal partners, and are urging attendees not to bring guns to the downtown/CBD and French Quarter areas to protect residents and revelers.