One of America’s most celebrated events is Mardi Gras in New Orleans and no one works harder than the officers of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) stationed along parade routes during the Carnival Season. While keeping people safe and keeping the parades in line and moving, many New Orleans police officers patrolling during Carnival have no time to eat during a typical 10- to 12-hour shift. For as little as $10, donors can sponsor a Mardi Gras meal or snack for an officer working the parades. Over the 12-day parading period, NOPD officers will work nearly 54,000 hours along parade routes in the French Quarter, Uptown, Mid-City and on the Westbank as well as throughout the city’s eight police districts to ensure parades roll and that everyone enjoys Mardi Gras safely.
To provide some relief, the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation (NOPJF) created the “Adopt-A-Cop” program so citizens and businesses can donate food or money to help feed officers while they patrol the parade routes. Adopt-A-Cop provides NOPD officers with hot food, sandwiches, healthy snacks, protein bars, sports beverages and water during the long days and nights of Mardi Gras. Adopt-A-Cop not only feeds NOPD officers, but all Federal, State and Local law enforcement agencies working Mardi Gras including the Louisiana State Police, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and Tulane Police Department.
On parade day, the NOPJF Adopt-A-Cop food truck rolls two hours before a parade and then again, at the end of it so officers can walk up and get what they need. However, since the truck is not equipped to maintain hot food (except for coffee and hot chocolate), those on the route can only choose items such as cold sandwiches, fruit, protein bars, sports drinks and water. If an officer would prefer a fresh, hot meal item, they will need to visit the NOPJF staff who is sets up at Special Operations. There they are served and sent back out on their way. Our mounted and traffic officers, who often do not see the food truck will keep their snacks with them in their saddlebags. Officers will also receive boxed lunches while being transported by bus across the city however; this is mostly just on Endymion Saturday.
Enjoying Mardi Gras is a special tradition in New Orleans that would not be possible without our Krewe in Blue who work around the clock to make it happen for everyone. The ability to enjoy Mardi Gras for parade goers and float riders alike means that someone else is working to make it happen.
There would be no Purple, Green and Gold without the Blue!
Link to 2017 WDSU Adopt-A-Cop Segment: NOPJF holds annual Adopt-A-Cop fundraiser