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Reflecting on his own professional journey, DA Williams shared how his office has fully embraced data-informed and preventative public safety strategies, including the formation of an Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Unit composed of former officers from agencies like the FBI, NSA, and CIA, and the launch of New Orleans Data-informed Community Engagement (NODICE), a citywide initiative that takes its mission from the words of Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu: “There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.” The initiative leverages data across public agencies to identify and address the root causes of crime.
“You are the ones to go further upstream. You are the ones who will redesign the system to prevent people from drowning in the first place,” DA Williams told graduates. “The world is shifting, and we need your minds, your heart, and your leadership now more than ever.”
The ceremony honored 32 students between the ages of 15 and 17, representing 29 schools across 16 parishes in Louisiana. Students were required to maintain a minimum GPA and submit an essay demonstrating their interest in pursuing careers in law enforcement or public safety. All students were housed on the Tulane campus during the program, receiving hands-on training from federal agents, state and local law enforcement officers, and legal professionals.
This year’s academy was held in memory of Tulane University Police Sergeant Martinus Mitchum, who was killed in the line of duty in 2021. His legacy of youth mentorship and community commitment continues to inspire the program’s mission.
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