The efforts of first responders were further hampered because 16 percent of the New Orleans Police Department did not report for duty during Katrina, which is a rare example of first responders abandoning their jobs during a disaster.37 Although, even if they all had reported for duty they may not have been much help. There were extensive criticisms over how law enforcement, as a resource, was used. NOPD patrolled the city for looters, rather than the many more pressing needs like search and rescue. NOPD leadership also perpetuated horrible rumors about violence at the Superdome
