TRAVERS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GINA: TODAY, WDSU GOES STRAIGHT TO THE MAN LEADING THE TASK FORCE CHECKING IF THE NOPD IS COMPLYING WITH THE CONSENT DECREE. WDSU REPORTER ELI BRAND IS LIVE, WITH WHAT HE HAD TO SAY, ELI. REPORTER: THE FIRST THING MONITOR JOHNATHAN ARONIE ADDRESSED WERE CLAIMS FROM NOPD THAT THE DECREE ITSELF WAS KEEPING THEM FROM HIRING NEW OFFICERS AND PREVENTING THEM FROM RETAINING THE OFFICERS THEY HAVE. HE SAID THAT ISN’T TRUE AND THE -- AND ON THE CONTRARY IT IS THE LACK OF STAFFING IN THE DEPARTMENT KEEPING THEM FROM GETTING IN LINE WITH THAT CONSENT DECREE. >> WE HAVE NOT HAD A FINDING THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS IN FULL AND EFFECTIVE COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONSENT DECREE. REPORTER: THE DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY OPERATION WITH UNDER 1,000 OFFICERS AND STANDS TO NEED A FEW HUNDRED MORE TO REACH THE STAFFING THEY NEED. FEDERAL MONITORS SAY THOSE NUMBERS HAVE THEM CHECKING TWICE TO SEE IF THEY CAN EVEN MEET COMPLIANCE. >> BEFORE THE JUDGE IS WILLING TO PUT THEM INTO THE TWO-YEAR SUSTAINMENT PERIOD, SHE NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS IN GOOD SHAPE. BECAUSE OF THE PERSONNEL SHORTAGE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE STILL WORKING THE WAY THEY SHOULD. AS AN EXAMPLE, AS WE’VE SAID IN PUBLIC HEARINGS, THE OFFICER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WASN’T FULLY STAFFED. IT NEEDS TO BE FULLY STAFFED. HEALTHY OFFICERS ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE OFFICERS AND THE COMMUNITY. REPORTER: THEY ALSO ADDED IT’S UNCLEAR HOW LONG IT COULD TAKE TO GET THERE. CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT HELENA MORENO SAYS THEY’RE WORKING HARD TO ADD STAFFING. >> WHAT I’M REALLY HOPING FOR IS THAT WE CAN ALL MOVE FORWARD IN A MANNER SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO HIT THE BENCHMARKS FOR THE CONSENT DECREE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN GET TO THE COMPLIANCE PHASE. REPORTER: MONITORS SAY THEY DO SEE PROGRESS BUT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE. >> THE PEOPLE WE WORK WITH AT THE NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTINUE TO WORK TO GET THE JOB DONE. REPORTER: WE WILL CONTINUE TO BRING YOU UPDATES IN THIS NOW OVER A DECADE LONG COMPLIANCE DEGREE ON-AIR AND ON O