The confirmation hearing for New Orleans Police Department superintendent nominee Anne Kirkpatrick is under way, and already at least one council member has signaled that she would have preferred that Mayor LaToya Cantrell have nominated another candidate.
During her opening remarks, at-large council member Helena Moreno noted that she, other council members, and people in the community want to know why the mayor selected Kirkpatrick over former interim NOPD Superintendent Michelle Woodfork.
"Interim Chief Kirkpatrick was chosen by Mayor LaToya Cantrell to become the new leader of the New Orleans Police Department on September 11--just a couple of weeks ago," Moreno said. "That announcement, let's just be honest, really did come as a shock. I'll address the elephant in the room. I think a lot of us council members, we really can't go anywhere without being asked why it appears that Mayor LaToya Cantrell overlooked Michelle Woodfork to be the one sitting before us today. I think many of us would have like the opportunity to have Chief Woodfork before us, and this is with all due deference and respect to the nominee, Ms. Kirkpatrick, who's before us today."
However, Moreno lauded Kirkpatrick's experience and thanked Cantrell for "engaging with the council's new confirmation rule."
"I hope that Chief Kirkpatrick continues some of the great work that Michelle Woodfork started, and I know, Chief Kirkpatrick, you've already said that you would do that and keep Chief Woodfork as part of your leadership team, and I think that's a good thing," Moreno said.
During her presentation to the council, Kirkpatrick addressed several areas she said the council asked her to address, including her principles as a law enforcement leaders.
"The first is that I do believe in procedural justice, that people should have a voice, that decisions are made with equity, (and) that just because you can use power doesn't mean you should use power," Kirkpatrick said. "Those are procedural just principles that will pepper my decision-making and be a true north guide for me. I also am a person who genuinely believes that I am here to serve you (and) to serve the men and women of this police department. So, I believe in servant leadership. They do not serve me--the men and women of this police department. I serve them, and I serve each and every one of your constituents with all the uniqueness that individuals bring."
Kirkpatrick told the council that her three main priorities remain recruitment and retention of officers, settling the federal consent decree overseeing the NOPD, and combating crime in the city. Kirkpatrick also said she wants to recruit officers who have "good emotional intelligence" and do not anger easily. Kirkpatrick told the council that she is willing to recruit officers in other Louisiana law enforcement agencies who already have the state-required certifications necessary to transfer laterally and being working immediately. She also says she wants to attract new police recruits from the city of New Orleans who are willing to serve their hometown as NOPD officers.
Related
