A former NOPD officer who pled guilty to covering up some of the facts surrounding the shootings of civilians on the Danziger Bridge was sentenced to three years in prison today.
Jefferey Lehrmann was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lance Africk in connection with the incident that occurred just days after Katrina. The three years was the maximum under the guidelines. The shootings occurred after officers were mistakenly told that an officer had been shot at on the bridge. Two people were killed and four others injured in the case that has captured national attention.
Dr. Romell Madison, whose brother Ronald was shot and killed during the incident, gave a victim’s impact statement. He said he didn’t want to recommend a specific sentence, but that he wanted to make sure Lehrmann was held accountable.
“We are grateful that the police “code of silence” was finally broken,” he said. “We are thankful that Mr. Lehrmann finally came forward to tell the truth. But, we are also saddened that he didn’t have the strength or courage to do it sooner.”
Lehrmann is one of five former officers who have pleaded guilty. Six others face trial. He pleaded to misprision of a felony, meaning that he knew about the crime and didn’t report it, and to covering up some of the facts in the case.
