Citizen panel to advise New Orleans police

NEW ORLEANS, April 8 (UPI) -- New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley is forming an ethnically diverse advisory panel to promote "constant dialogue" between police and residents.

Creation of the 15-member New Orleans Police Community Relations Board, chaired by Temple Sinai's Rabbi Ed Cohn, is in reaction to community outrage after police shot and killed a mental patient with a knife in December.

Police said the shooting of Anthony Hayes, 38, was justified because he tried to stab an officer, the New Orleans Times Picayune reported.

Cohn said the new board intends to monitor a current investigation into police brutality charges by Jonie Pratt -- a black woman who claims three white police officers beat her after a midnight traffic stop. Pratt is married to an NOPD officer.

Riley stressed that the panel will not act as a police review board.

"It's about enhancing the community relationship with police," Riley said.