Rising crime forces local law enforcement agencies to deal with employee retention and turnover problems.

The clock reads 9:45 p.m. as Lt. Menzies pulls up outside the NOPD headquarters and walks toward a monument dedicated to his fallen colleagues. It’s at this wall, with its mirror-like material, where visitors see their silhouettes, a reminder of life’s fragility.

For both officers Pamela Jordan and Lazono Black, their day is spent in and out of a patrol car, responding to dispatcher calls and making their presence known in the area. Magazine Street has been both officers’ beat for less than a year; they have been partners for a month and a half.

My big take-away from the first day of The New York Times Student Journalism Institute: I can enjoy the Big Easy without becoming an easy target.