Katrina cops’ victory

NEW ORLEANS — A sharply divided federal appeals court Tuesday rejected prosecutors’ efforts to reinstate convictions of five former New Orleans police officers tied to deadly shootings of unarmed civilians in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The 7-7 tie vote maintains rulings that overturned guilty verdicts in the shootings at the Danziger Bridge six days after Katrina’s Aug. 29, 2005, landfall.

With the city badly flooded and utilities out, the police killed two men and wounded four others.