Former New Orleans police officer Gerard Dugue caught a break on Friday when a judge declared a mistrial in his case because prosecutors improperly tried to introduce evidence about a fellow cop. Charged with covering up the slaying of several New Orleans residents on the Danziger Bridge in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Dugue testified for most of the day. He said he was investigating the fatal shootings of civilians at Danzinger Bridge, but was told to attend to his other duties first. The officer also said the district attorney’s office hampered the investigation and that he was pressured to turn in his findings before his final report was ready.
