A rat broke into the New Orleans Police Department’s dilapidated headquarters, broke into the evidence room and got “high” on marijuana, police officials said this week.
“Rats are eating our marijuana. Everyone’s getting high,” New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Ann Kirkpatrick told City Council members during a Criminal Justice Committee meeting Monday, according to Louisiana WWL. ” he said.
In addition to rats, the building was infested with cockroaches, had mold, no air conditioning, and elevators and bathrooms were not working properly, the director added.
Kirkpatrick’s comments come just weeks after New Orleans, considered one of America’s top tourist and party cities, welcomed hundreds of thousands of tourists for Mardi Gras.
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Police Chief Ann Kirkpatrick walks through the Berkus Mystic Krewe parade in the French Quarter during Mardi Gras on February 4, 2024 in New Orleans. (Erica Goldring/Getty Images)
“We can’t say we value our employees and at the same time tolerate them working in unacceptable conditions,” Kirkpatrick said.
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In addition to rats, the building has cockroach infestations, mold, no air conditioning, and sometimes elevators and bathrooms aren’t working properly, the director added. (AFP via Getty Images)
Kirkpatrick said dirty work conditions can hurt morale, as the department struggles with record staffing issues following the 2020 police campaign’s defunding campaign. He pointed out that this has become a problem for NOPD in recent years.
“If you don’t have the right place to work or live, it’s going to affect morale, so that’s a big factor,” she said.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell rides her horse to the Gallier Hall judging stand in front of 1,500 Krewe of Zulu horsemen riding down St. Charles Avenue for Mardi Gras in New Orleans, March 1, 2022. arrive at. (Michael DeMocker/Getty Images)
Kirkpatrick added that staff sometimes find rat droppings on their desks when they come to work.
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New Orleans Police Department Headquarters (Google Maps)
City leaders on Monday quickly developed a plan to approve a lease for the next 10 years for a new building across from the Caesars Superdome. The lease and transfer must be voted on by the full City Council for final approval, WWL Louisiana reports.
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The new lease is expected to cost approximately $670,000 annually, plus $300,000 to actually move personnel to the new location. The police force is scheduled to move to a new location in May.
