DA Hillar Moore releases statement on BRAVE funding controversy

BATON ROUGE - District Attorney Hillar Moore issued a statement Wednesday addressing the controversy surrounding a Baton Rouge crime-fighting initiative.

Moore, who was one of the co-signers of BRAVE, says the program has been an overall success and that recent attention brought to Mayor Sharon Weston Broome's suspended contracts has distracted from its benefits.

"I firmly support each citizen’s right to review how their funds are being spent. I am very concerned, however, that within the ringing of alarms and raising of concerns that some very significant things are being overlooked: BRAVE has been a success as lives have been saved and crime has been reduced," Moore's statement read.

Moore went on to say that he is proud to have been a part of BRAVE, adding that his time and energy devoted to the program was "well spent".

On Wednesday, former Mayor Kip Holden blasted the current mayor after she blamed his administration for the BRAVE program losing its funding.

Click HERE to read the district attorney's full statement.