ProjectNOLA

05/05/2026

Despite how good Project NOLA is at helping to solve & reduce crime, we've never been comfortable with soliciting charitable donations. However, this officially being GiveNOLA day in New Orleans, we're humbly asking that you please visit https://givebutter.com/support-project-nola-dhpbtn to make a tax deductible charitable donation to help make our community safer by supporting Project NOLA.

Given the rising cost of servers and computer components we use to build our camera cloud, donations large or small are greatly appreciated!

By Project Nola

05/05/2026

CBD, New Orleans — Project NOLA leads to arrest of yet another robbery suspect.

This evening, Project NOLA led the NOPD Eighth District and LSP Troop NOLA to the swift arrest of Derricka Womack, who was wanted for last week's robbery in a CBD hotel lobby.

How it happened:

* A Project NOLA LFR camera on a Canal Street business detected Womack entering the area.

* This triggered an automated tip to nearby LSP troopers and a manual telephone alert to NOPD detectives, resulting in an immediate response.

* Project NOLA assisted throughout the investigation by providing critical camera footage and initially naming Womack as a possible suspect.

Close Call: We got a little lucky today. Womack headed toward an area of the CBD known by local criminals for lacking Project NOLA cameras. Fortunately, we were able to track her using a distant camera in the French Quarter until the arrest was made.

Closing the Gap: We won't have to worry about that blind spot for much longer! A property owner who witnessed the arrest was so impressed they immediately offered to host a Project NOLA LFR camera on their block.

Case closed and camera blind spot solved. Thanks to everyone for working together to keep New Orleans safe! 🛡️⚖️

05/02/2026

Project NOLA Leads to Quick Arrest in French Quarter "Fake Rideshare" Armed Robbery

Yesterday evening, a Project NOLA live facial recognition alert led LSP Troop NOLA to the immediate arrest of 31-year-old Beaunca Caldwell after she entered the French Quarter. Caldwell was wanted in connection with last Sunday’s armed robbery in the French Quarter, which allegedly involved a "Fake Rideshare." While being interviewed by NOPD Eighth District, Caldwell allegedly attacked a detective and attempted to escape, resulting in additional charges.

Project NOLA assisted the NOPD throughout the investigation by providing critical crime camera footage and initially identifying Caldwell as a possible suspect. Job well done LSP Troop NOLA for the amazing response and NOPD Eighth District for the extremely impressive detective work!

As always, special thanks to everyone hosting Project NOLA cameras on their homes and businesses, who are truly helping to make New Orleans a significantly safer place to live, work and visit!

ENJOY JAZZ FEST Y'ALL!

04/24/2026

PROJECT NOLA FINDS TESLA FIREBOMBING SUSPECT: John Michael Hinkhouse was taken into custody by the NOFD and ATF in connection with the April 14th Molotov cocktail firebomb arson at the Tesla Service Center in New Orleans. Following the attack, Project NOLA used its expansive network of high-definition crime cameras to track the suspect’s movements, eventually leading investigators to a residence on Bordeaux Street. At that location, New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) arson investigators recovered a motorcycle believed to have been used in the commission of the crime.

This arrest marks Project NOLA’s successful contribution to the closure of the second major arson investigation this year to be categorized as a potential act of domestic terrorism, following the high-profile Bywater arson spree. This latest case further demonstrates Project NOLA’s unique ability to help protect our community from high-level threats. By fusing community-based real-time video intelligence with inter-agency collaboration, Project NOLA continues to help make New Orleans a safer place to live, work and visit.

04/23/2026

Operating a national Real-Time Crime / Fusion Center at LSUNO, Project NOLA received a high-priority alert yesterday afternoon from a partner law enforcement agency in North Carolina regarding a credible threat to the New Orleans area. The subject, an individual reportedly suffering from PTSD, was believed to be traveling to the city with the intent to commit a mass-casualty event at a local festival and engage in "su***de by cop.

Project NOLA staff immediately disseminated this intelligence to Louisiana State Police (LSP) Troop NOLA, who coordinated the notification of local and federal authorities. To provide a final layer of protection, Project NOLA entered the subject’s profile into its city-wide network of live facial recognition cameras around New Orleans so state and federal agencies may instantly be alerted if the individual were to evade capture elsewhere.

Following this multi-agency coordination, the subject was successfully apprehended last night at a hotel in Florida. Authorities seized a handgun and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition.

This successful outcome underscores Project NOLA’s frequent role as a national fusion center, where we serve as a critical intelligence hub by connecting multiple law enforcement agencies together. By fusing community-based private-sector technology with public-safety operations, we facilitate the rapid sharing of actionable data across jurisdictional lines to prevent crimes and other tragedies before they occur.

04/23/2026

While Project NOLA can confirm its involvement in the apprehension of a North Carolina man in Florida who may have been heading to New Orleans to target a festival, we wish to reserve further comment until local authorities officially release relevant information.

04/18/2026

While New Orleans celebrates, Project NOLA is working to keep French Quarter Fest safe! While Project NOLA staff helped the NOPD gather evidence after a stabbing at Canal and Rampart earlier today, our Live Facial Recognition cameras detected the two suspects entering the French Quarter. Immediately, our LFR system automatically notified Troop NOLA and Project NOLA staff manually alerted the NOPD. Within minutes, BOTH stabbing suspects were apprehended!

Great work NOPD Eighth District & LSP Troop NOLA, and special thanks as always to everyone hosting Project NOLA crime cameras on their homes and businesses that are helping to make New Orleans a significantly safer place to live, work and visit!

04/10/2026

Continuing an unprecedented two-year winning streak of helping to solve 100% of all shootings in the NOPD Eighth District, Project NOLA Crime Camera video of last week's shooting on the 300 block of Bourbon has led to the arrest of Anthony Smallwood. On the night of the shooting, Project NOLA proactively used Clothing & Facial Recognition to retrace the suspect's movements about the French Quarter, which helped the NOPD solve the case.

Great detective work 8th District and many thanks to those hosting Project NOLA Crime Cameras on their homes and businesses, which are very greatly helping to make New Orleans a considerably safer place to live, work and visit!

Reminder: City Code & NOPD Policy ALLOWS officers to legally accept unsolicited Facial Recognition based tips from third parties.

04/10/2026

Within a matter of minutes tonight, Project NOLA and the NOPD just took two separate robbery suspects off the streets in back-to-back takedowns!

First, our team guided officers to a wanted subject in Treme. Mere minutes later, our staff spotted a second suspect wanted for a different robbery in the French Quarter, leading to another arrest!

While helping to apprehend felons is part of our daily routine at Project NOLA, back-to-back wins like this are a testament to the power of high tech cameras, amazing community support and great policing! Massive shoutout to the NOPD for their incredible hustle and seamless coordination!

04/06/2026

Last night, Real-Time tips from Project NOLA led to the arrest of Gerald Franklin in the French Quarter, who was wanted for the recent shooting near the intersection of Royal & Iberville. A convicted felon, Franklin was found to be in possession of a firearm while being arrested, which yielded an additional charge.

How Project NOLA helped solve the case:

* Project NOLA provided NOPD Eighth District with crystal clear snapshots and video immediately after the incident.

* Within minutes of the shooting, Project NOLA proactively tipped the NOPD to the possible name of the shooter, which detectives later verified via additional investigative means.

* Last night, Project NOLA's automated tip alert system detected that Franklin returned to the French Quarter. Via telephone, a Project NOLA analyst then led responding units to Franklin's location in real-time.

UNPRECIDENTED RESULTS: In the last TWO YEARS, 100% of ALL non-fatal shootings in the NOPD Eighth District have been solved thanks to Project NOLA!!!

While the national average for closing non-fatal shootings hovers around 20-30% (top performing major police departments may solve around 50%), Project NOLA's technology and community-driven model is helping the NOPD achieve the highest clearance rates in the country. While other police departments often wait months for DNA results to help name suspects, Project NOLA is providing suspects' names mere MINUTES after a major crime is committed!

Thanks again to our many supporters and crime camera hosts that make this all possible!

NOTE: Present City Code & NOPD Policy ALLOWS officers to accept unsolicited Facial Recognition based tips from third parties.