The New Orleans City Council Governmental Affairs Committee voted 4-1 Wednesday to send the nomination of Ann Kirkpatrick for Superintendent of New Orleans Police before the full city council for a vote.
City Council President J.P. Morrell called for the vote "with no recommendation," meaning the committee is not taking a position one way or another on Kirkpatrick's nomination. Its action today merely sends the nomination on for its final vote.
The one vote in the "nay" column came from Councilmember Eugene Greene, who said he believes the vote should have been in affirmative support of Kirkpatrick for the job of police chief.
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.
"I do believe in procedural justice, that people should have a voice, that decisions are made with equity," Kirkpatrick told the panel. " 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."
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Some members of the council did mention during the hearing that they expected New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell to nominate Michelle Woodfork, who served as interim chief from December 2022 through mid-September.
"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," City Council Vice President Helena 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."
Kirkpatrick's nomination will go before the council at the October 19 regular meeting.