They used to practice in closed compounds, but the sight of the riot squad practicing in the city streets is becoming a regular occurrence. And so it was this afternoon at 3:30 pm, when we caught the squad in effect on East Canal.
Officer Commanding Eastern Division Crispin Jeffries Sr. told us that this kind of exercise, though we've only seen it twice in recent memory, is routine. Jeffries explained that the riot squad was deployed throughout the city today as part of the Department's hurricane preparedness effort.
And as these men in black armor have gotten a reputation for their no- nonsense tactics, today, even in the drills, that no nonsense approach was apparent as this little girl was unintentionally swept up in the drill's advance. Though she got a little scare, the girl was not injured.
