A federal judge said Wednesday that the New Orleans Police Department’s progress in complying with an 11-year reform agreement is “drastically accelerating,” but when will he feel comfortable loosening court oversight of the department? It was not shown.
Judge Susie Morgan’s comments during an afternoon hearing appeared to signal a easing of tensions between the court and Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration. The city currently operates a constitutionally sound police department and has argued that the bureaucracy and costs incurred by the city to comply with the agreement are an undue burden.
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The reform agreement, known as the “consent decree,” was negotiated in 2012 and approved by Morgan in 2013. The move follows a harsh and critical review by the Justice Department of police, which has been a problem for years. In 2005, unarmed civilians died in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina’s levee failure.
Not only did Morgan reject efforts to end federal oversight, but in November he also rejected 2013 reforms after the city failed to adequately investigate allegations against members of Cantrell’s police security team. It issued a 76-page judgment declaring that the agreement had been breached. The mayor’s bodyguard was accused of billing the city for time outside of his police duties, including time spent with the mayor in a city-owned apartment while he was appointed by the mayor to serve on the city’s Housing Commission.
But Morgan held off on punishing the city, keeping in mind that Ann Kirkpatrick will be the new police chief. On Wednesday, Kirkpatrick and other department leaders outlined changes to internal affairs investigation policy. They are also being implemented to address response time issues in sexual assault and domestic violence investigations, as well as calls where understaffed department personnel arrive because the victim is found not to be at the scene. It also outlines the policies that are in place.
Anne Kirkpatrick speaks at a press conference after New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell (back left) announced Kirkpatrick as a candidate for New Orleans Police Chief on September 11, 2023, in New Orleans. . A federal judge said Wednesday, February 21, 2024, that the New Orleans Police Department’s progress in complying with an 11-year reform agreement is “drastically accelerating,” but the judge does not know when to ease court oversight of the force. He did not indicate whether he felt comfortable doing so. Department. (Chris Granger/Times-Picayune/New Orleans Defender, via AP)
Morgan seemed pleased with the progress, saying cooperation between the department and federal monitors had “improved dramatically” under Kirkpatrick’s watch.
However, he added, “I’m not in a position to say when the city will enter the period of continuation.” She was referring to a situation where federal oversight would begin to be phased out.
The vast and complex requirements of the 2013 consent order spanned 120 pages and touched on topics such as use of force, investigating police misconduct, and racial and gender bias.
As recently as two years ago, Morgan expressed optimism that the city would be fully compliant with reform requirements within months. But in an August 2022 hearing with city officials and court observers, Morgan said the department’s attrition raised questions about whether the city could continue with reforms. The number of police officers in the department has decreased by several hundred in recent years, to about 900.
Later, allegations of salary fraud by Cantrell’s bodyguards surfaced, and he was ultimately issued two letters of reprimand.
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The city operates a constitutionally sound department and argues that the cost of paying the federal monitor, which 2022 filings say the city paid more than $14 million, is an undue burden. There is. The agreement has also been criticized by police organizations, with restrictions placed on car chases and searches for suspects, and police officers worried that they would be subject to tougher discipline if they violate even minor provisions. Concerns have also been raised.
