The New Orleans Police Department has clarified that it is not affiliated with an Instagram account called "EmpowerYouNOLA," which has been posting the names and images of juveniles involved in criminal investigations. The New Orleans Police Department warned about the potential harm of sharing unverified information and emphasized the presumption of innocence, according to WGNO.
The New Orleans Police Department recently arrested five students, aged 11 to 16, in connection with a series of citywide threats. WWL-TV reported that the department emphasized the importance of due process and protecting the privacy of juveniles. The New Orleans Police Departmen has not confirmed whether any of the arrested students were involved with the "EmpowerYouNOLA" platform in relation to the threats.
Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick addressed the age of the arrested students in an interview, and WDSU later clarified that the New Orleans Police Department does not support social media posts that may mislead the public. The department continues to encourage people to rely on official sources for accurate information, especially in cases involving minors. They emphasized that sharing unverified details can harm young individuals and disrupt the legal process
