New Orleans City Council President J.P. Morrell and Vice President Helena Moreno are asking the Orleans Parish Communication District board chair to suspend director Tyrell Morris.
Morris has announced his resignation, effective in September, but soon after his announcement, reports of him allegedly altering public records to make it appear as if procedure had been followed after he was in a wreck with his city-owned vehicle came to light.
Related
That wreck happened May 7. Morris and the other driver exchanged information, and WWL-TV reports Morris instructed the dispatcher to mark the incident as "Necessary Action Taken." No report was ever made with NOPD.
The Orleans Parish Communications District rules, as provided to WWL-TV as 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.
NOLA.com reports metadata show Morris altered the policy four days after the crash.
During a news conference today, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell brushed aside questions about Morris, but said she would answer more questions at a press event on Wednesday.