Paul Craig Roberts, a former editor of the Wall Street Journal and former assistant secretary to the treasury under Ronald Reagan, wrote recently: “Police in the US now rival criminals, and exceed terrorists as the greatest threat to the American public.”

If you don’t believe him, read this article on the criminal justice system in New Orleans.

The US Department of Justice issued a report saying that the New Orleans police department is racist, that it systemically violates civil rights, uses “unnecessary and unreasonable force”, is “largely indifferent to widespread violations of law and policy by its police officers” and routinely covers up officer shootings of civilians. “NOPD’s mishandling of officer-involved shooting investigations, was so blatant and egregious that it appeared intentional in some respects.” Even police dogs are out of control, “We found that NOPD’s canines were uncontrollable to the point where they repeatedly attacked their own handlers.”

The report is mainly about New Orleans, but similar problems plague police departments across the south.