WWL-TV  Posted on January 15, 2010 at 9:44 AM

Updated Friday, Jan 15 at 11:01 A

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Budget cuts will not keep the Louisiana State Police from beefing up protection in New Orleans during Mardi Grass.

State Police Superintendent Col. Michael Edmonson said on Thursday that he is taking steps to hold down overtime so that 118 troopers can be freed up to spend Carnival in New Orleans.

Edmonson says the plan he and New Orleans Police Chief Warren Riley have worked out will have uniformed officers mostly in the French Quarter and Central Business District. He says that will provide a solid presence in that area.

Edmonson says it also frees up NOPD officers for other areas.