The police chief at New Orleans’ flood protection authority says he has saved the agency "millions upon millions" of dollars, but records show he plans to sharply increase spending on policing this year, including for a fleet of new vehicles.

The agency’s police budget has increased by $3.7 million, records show. Prior to Joshua Rondeno’s arrival as chief in July 2024, the agency budgeted $8 million for police. This year, it plans to spend nearly $12 million.

Rondeno and other agency leaders say the spending is long overdue. It is needed, they say, to professionalize its police force, whose officers were previously required to use their personal firearms, among other issues. But it comes with state legislators and government watchdog groups questioning changes at the agency, including

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