Council narrows ordinance restricting disclosure of crime- and accident-scene images; approves amendment after NOPD concerns, adopts ordinance (one recusal)

City Hall — The New Orleans City Council approved an ordinance that restricts public disclosure of photographs and video of crime and accident scenes involving death or serious bodily injury, while adding exceptions for law-enforcement investigations, courts and victim requests.

Councilmember Joe Jeruso offered an amendment that narrowed the language in the original draft. The amendment clarified the ordinance’s scope — focusing on images of victims in cases involving death or serious bodily injury — and spelled out six exceptions, including disclosure to other law enforcement agencies when needed for an investigation, internal law-enforcement training, disclosures requested by the victim or (if deceased) the victim’s family, court proceedings, and required public-records disclosures.

Councilmembers said the amendments responded to concerns raised by NOPD and other stakeholders who needed certain internal uses and victim-request processes preserved. Public commenters raised First Amendment and transparency concerns; citizen Mike Warwick (Mike Burnside) urged the council to ensure the amendment restricts city employees’ disclosures and not the independent press.

Councilmember Phelps recused herself from the matter because of an announced conflict; the amended ordinance passed by recorded vote (4 yeas, 1 recusal). Council staff said the revised ordinance intends to protect victim dignity while preserving law-enforcement functions and victim-requested disclosures.