Nowy Orlean (Word) – a new report of the Civil Service Committee in Nowy Orlean states that the mayor of New Orleans Latoya Cantrell tried to control the promotions of the Police Department.
The rulers state that the mayor instructed NOPD superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick to stop the trial in September, because Cantrell said that the deputies of the bosses were biased in the way they classified the candidates for promotion.
Ultimately, Kirkpatrick decided to introduce an external panel to review the results.
“They entered the candidates, using the department’s criteria and in the same way as the deputy boss,” said Rafael Goyeneche.
In fact, the Civil Service Commission stated that Cantrell suspended the trial, attempting to use a selected candidate, lieutenant Sabrina Richardson.
Richardson was disciplined in 2022 and degraded from captain to lieutenant.
Due to her story, her result was falling from the third best until the eighth best.
Kirkpatrick testified that Cantrell ordered her to ensure that that Richardson was given to 3rd place. Kirkpatrick refused.
“It was a decision taken by the mayor, and the civil service basically cut the curtain of the mystery and stated that the promotional process was not detained or detained,” said Goyeneche.
Even more harmful to the mayor is that when she was called to testify before the Civil Service Commission, the mayor “begged for the fifth”, refusing to comment on the risk of implcing himself in potential offenses.
According to the city charter of Nowy Orleans, when a city worker does it, it could cost a worker of their work.
“There is a potential that the mayor may be removed ex officio to refuse to testify before civil service,” said Goyeneche.
The city of Nowy Orlean issued the following statement:
The city of Nowy Orlean respectfully doesn’t agree with the findings of the Civil Service Committee and confirms that the mayor of Latoya Cantrell didn’t interfere with the last promotional process.
NOPD confirms the commission report regarding the promotional process for the ranks of Major and Captain and currently reviews the applications and related documentation. Although we recognize and respect the vital role of the Commission in compliance with the regulations and procedures of civil service, the city is heavily involved in maintaining a good, transparent and based on the merits of the trial, which fully meets legal standards, department’s policy and a decree of consent.
The city of New Orleans
NOPD issued the following statement:
The Police Department in Nowy Orlean is aware of the findings published by the Civil Service Commission regarding the last promotional process for the ranks of Major and Captain.
We respect power and supervision over the commission. NOPD stays obliged to take care of the promotional process, which is fair, transparent and in full compliance with the regulations regarding the civil service, the decree of consent and the department’s policy.
Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick consistently priority treats honesty and compliance with the process, and the department will proceed to follow these standards.
Police Department in Nowy Orleans
Read the full report about the city website.
