WBRZ - Baton Rouge

NEW ORLEANS - The FBI has agreed to work with the New Orleans Police Department public integrity bureau on internal investigations.

FBI agent Dave Welker says he and police officials have been meeting about moving agents into the department since last year.

Officials said Monday that the move gives the department's integrity investigators access to FBI databases, which contain high-level, federal criminal information.

Deputy Police Chief Arlinda Westbrook says the move helps their effort to implement recommendations made by the Department of Justice, most specifically those that address civil rights violations.

Cases involving simple officer misconduct and the like will continue to be handled by PIB investigators.