NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - New Orleans police plan to increase their presence at rapper NBA YoungBoy concerts Sunday and Monday at the Smoothie King Center.
The plans come as a law enforcement source says social media reports indicate rivals of NBA YoungBoy’s associates plan to attend the New Orleans concerts. The law enforcement source adds the second Atlanta concert was canceled after members of NBA YoungBoy’s entourage clashed with Atlanta police at the VIP entrance to the facility.
New Orleans Police Department Deputy Chief Hans Ganthier said the department expects large crowds, with the venue’s 17,000-seat capacity likely to be full both nights. He says police will have a “very robust deployment,” including more than 400 officers each night, supported by state, local and federal partners.
New Orleans police say their law enforcement presence will include walking beats, mounted and bicycle units, tactical teams, drones, an armored vehicle and light towers in key areas, along with high-visibility patrols downtown and in the French Quarter.
If traffic becomes congested, NOPD says it may also implement street closures and barricades around Canal, Poydras and Bourbon streets. No-parking zones will be strictly enforced with towing, Ganthier said.
“Our public message to everyone is that NOPD is prepared for this event,” he said. “If you have to bring a gun, don’t come down to the areas of interest. Leave your guns at home.”
Ganthier said the department met with representatives from the Smoothie King Center, ASM Global, promoters, state police and federal agencies to discuss safety concerns.
New Orleans City Councilman J.P. Morrell raised questions about the city’s budget and police resources to deploy this enforcement, but Ganthier said state and federal agencies volunteered their support through existing partnerships.
He confirmed that about 400 officers will be assigned nightly with most working 12-hour shifts. He said some detectives may work longer.
Ganthier added federal partners will monitor online activity related to the concerts and will be on the ground assisting during the events.
He acknowledged that intelligence gathered from other cities where similar concerts were held contributed to the department’s decision to increase staffing.
“That gives us concern,” Ganthier said. “It also lets us know to be ready for that. We’d be foolish not to act on it.”
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