We're learning more about New Orleans police superintendent nominee Anne Kirkpatrick.
Today, we found out what Kirkpatrick's top three priorities would be if the city council confirms her nomination. We also learned that the current interim superintendent of the NOPD will remain on the force as part of Kirkpatrick's administration if the city council confirms her nomination.
"As far as Michelle Woodfork: She's fabulous!" Kirkpatrick told WWL's Tommy Tucker.
Kirkpatrick says she recognizes Woodfork's institutional knowledge of the NOPD and of the city and its culture. Kirkpatrick said Woodfork has agreed to stay on the force as a member of her administration.
"I plan for us to be partners, that we complement one another, not compete with one another. Therefore, she has shown, and I was delighted that she was willing to stay on board," Kirkpatrick said. "Together, with her background, her knowledge, (and) her institutional understanding, she can bridge build. Then with what I bring to the table, it makes it a package. It doesn't have to be a competition, a one or the other, and I'm excited about that."
Kirkpatrick says her top three priorities are closely related to each other.
"Crime, staffing, and the consent decree will be the top three things," Kirkpatrick said, noting that staffing and crime go hand in hand.
Kirkpatrick says she will recruit the "best and the brightest" officers from around the state while working to retain officers already on the force.
"People leave people before they leave organizations," Kirkpatrick said. "I want to be sure that I, along with the team, provide the type of leadership that people are expecting. People are leaving because they're getting grinded out, frankly. If they have not been supported, there are a lot of opportunities around this country, and they see these opportunities. My heart's desire is to make New Orleans the kind of place where they don't want to leave and they believe in the leadership, they know that they will be supported when they have been in the right as long as they constitutionally and ethically police."
"I do want to look at what we do for wellness for every member of this agency, because their wellness matters to me," Kirkpatrick said.
As for the consent decree, Kirkpatrick says she will meet with the federal monitors to introduce herself and that she'll be transparent with them always.
"I desire to be very cooperative, " Kirkpatrick said. "I understand the legal proceedings associated with consent decrees, and it is a legal issue. It's a legal proceeding. The judge is the ruler of the oversight of this consent decree. I look forward to meeting her and working with her. This has to be a team effort."
Kirkpatrick says she and others who are party to the consent decree must understand what exactly the federal judge and the consent decree monitors want the NOPD to do. She says gaining that clarity will be among her first actions in office.
When asked about Mayor Cantrell's previous comments about the consent decree monitor being "out of her lane," Kirkpatrick reiterated her commitment to working together with the monitor and the judge overseeing the case.
"We can all work together," Kirkpatrick said. "We can all make this happen if we stay together and understand what each person's role is, what are the expectations, what is the plan. We will do it together. We do not have to be nemeses. It is not my plan to be anyone's nemesis on any side. My role will be: what do we need to do? That is true with all consent decrees. These are legal documents. These are legal actions. I have been an attorney for 33 years. I understand what we will need to do, but we do not have to be enemies. It is not necessary. We just need to do each other's part."
Kirkpatrick said Mayor Cantrell is giving her the freedom to work with the consent decree monitor and the judge to free the NOPD from the consent decree.
"She's not telling me how to make it happen," Kirkpatrick said. "My experience is what will help in governing going forward and working with the monitor and with the court."
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