This week, WWL’s Newell Normand got an inside look into a revealing case related to the New Orleans Police Department’s public integrity bureau.
“In this case, it was... admitted that, in 99% of the cases (where… they use) – sensitive cases where they use a special investigation squad – (that) they do manipulate the dates to avoid compliance with the state law and (that) that happened here,” attorney Eric Hessler told Normand.
Hessler, who represents the Police Association of New Orleans, discussed the case in-depth. WWL also obtained NOPD internal investigation documents.
According to Hessler, the case features falsified documents, law violations, lies and cover-ups, particularly forged documents connected to former NOPD Lt. Arlinda Westbrook, who was head of the Public Integrity Bureau.
Furthermore, he said it might not be the only case like it.
“It goes to show that what we’ve been complaining of for the last several years is more extensive than we thought,” said Hessler. He added that there have been calls in the past for federal monitors and the City Council to investigate.
“They’ve never done so,” Hessler said. “And in the meantime, we’re losing hundreds of... officers who are leaving because of this problem.”
Just last month, Normand and Rafael Goyeneche of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, discussed the “direct correlation between the rise of violent crimes and the decline of NOPD personnel.”
Explore the twists and turns of the internal integrity case with Normand and Hessler – and learn how it relates to the Policeman’s Bill of Rights – here.
