Despite allegations of altered public records, an investigation by the Office of Inspector General, and a request from the leaders of the New Orleans City Council, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell today said Orleans Parish Communications District Director Tyrell Morris will stay on the job until his resignation become effective in September.
"Tyrell Morris, director of OPCD, is a vital part of our public safety team," the mayor said. "That's something that we will continue to engage him as our director."
Morris said he is stepping down to spend more time with his family and to pursue a doctoral degree. But WWL-TV reports Morris crashed his city-owned car last month, and may have violated policy by never notifying New Orleans Police of the crash.
That wreck happened May 7. Morris and the other driver exchanged information, and WWL-TV reports Morris instructed the 911 dispatcher to mark the incident as "Necessary Action Taken." No report was ever made with NOPD.
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The Orleans Parish Communications District rules, as provided to WWL-TV as it investigated the crash, state "If injuries are reported, the operator of the OPCD vehicle(s) must take a drug and alcohol test as soon as possible. The Director of Human Resources should be contacted for the name and location of the testing facility."
The policy is dated May 14, 2019, and is signed by Morris himself.
But the TV station reports it appears this policy was altered. It has a version that reads "The operator of the OPCD vehicle(s) must take a drug and alcohol test as soon as possible. The Director of Human Resources should be contacted for the name and location of the testing facility." The words "If injuries are reported" do not appear.
Mayor Cantrell indicated that the position Morris holds is too vital to allow a vacancy.
"Transition does matter," she said, "especially when you're talking about public safety, top priority, city of New Orleans."
New Orleans City Council Vice President Helena Moreno says it is precisely because the job Morris holds is so important that he should be suspended, because it demands a leader who won't be distracted.
"This is such an important public safety agency," she told WWL's Newell Normand. "We need someone who is going to treat this like a full-time job with all of their attention on making sure that 911 calls are being answered appropriately."