The 30-second spot was funded by the city and produced for about $27,000 by the nonprofit Police and Justice Foundation.

“We never would have submitted anything we thought was objectionable,” NOPJF Board Chair Elizabeth Boh said. “We hoped it would appeal to a younger generation and to upcoming potential new recruits and we’re sure what the problem was.”

The ad featured Mardi Gras Indians, Big Freedia backup dancers, Rolling Elvi and Chewbacchus characters dancing around an NOPD officer.

This week, the NOPD pulled the spot from its social media about an hour after it was posted.

Police would only say, “The video in question was removed because the department did not want anyone to be offended by the negative commentary that ensued.”

“The idea behind it was to create a culturally creative, attractive ad that would bring people into New Orleans to show the uniqueness of New Orleans,” Boh said.