An evidence room in the headquarters of the New Orleans Police Department was infiltrated by rats earlier this week, leaving all of the rodents “high” off of marijuana that was being held there.
The news was shared by NOPD superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick to the city council’s Criminal Justice Committee on Monday.
“The rats are eating our marijuana,” Kirkpatrick said, according to a report from USA Today. “They’re all high.”
Kirkpatrick went on to say that the headquarters has a rodent and cockroach infestation, which is leading to poor working conditions.
She went as far as to say that rodent feces is often seen on police desks and that the infestation has created dangerous maintenance issues.
“When we say we value our employees, you can’t say that and, at the same time, allow people to work in conditions that are not acceptable,” Kirkpatrick said.
Kirkpatrick noted that the conditions are so bad they avoid bringing potential recruits there because it is a “huge turnoff.”
The superintendent’s comments came before the city council voted to approve a 10-year lease agreement for the department to move to a new building, which will cost $670,000 per month, CBS reported.
While pricey, the move will cost the city less than it would have to repair the damages in the old building.
Now, the department will be in the building for the next decade until the city can find a permanent space to house the police force.