In New Orleans, public safety officials have been hesitant to employ deployable 700-pound steel barriers designed to prevent vehicle ramming attacks. This skepticism persisted even after such an attack on Bourbon Street on New Year’s Day, which resulted in 14 deaths and 67 injuries, as revealed by government emails obtained by the Guardian.

These emails, acquired through a public records request, indicate that the inventor of the so-called Archer barriers faced resistance from the local authorities when he offered to train them on how to use the barriers effectively. Police officers were reportedly not enthusiastic about being responsible for setting up and breaking down the barriers, which could be done in 20 minutes on Bourbon Street.

One officer expressed concerns about the division of responsibilities, suggesting that deploying the barriers was not their job description and would deplete their resources if someone got injured. Additionally, the public safety and homeland security director criticized the barriers for being dangerous due to the risk of tripping and sharp edges.

Despite initial reluctance, New Orleans officials have used the Archer barriers in certain locations, but an agreement to deploy them along the city’s main Mardi Gras parade route was later scrapped. This decision was influenced by disagreements over the mobility of the barriers and the logistical challenges associated with their deployment.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/28/new-orleans-officials-truck-attack-vehicle-barriers