The New Orleans City Council is putting pressure on Mayor LaToya Cantrell to force her conduct a national search for a new police superintendent.
Now, one council member is using a time limit on the interim superintendent's position to force the mayor's hand.
"The interim can only serve for 120 days," council vice president J. P. Morrell told WWL's Tommy Tucker. "If the interim period runs out, that person can no longer be chief."
Morrell says the council reserves the right to extend interim NOPD superintendent Michelle Woodfork's term beyond that four-month limit if they so choose. According to Morrell, that would happen only under one condition.
"The council already has the ability based upon the charter and based upon existing law that Superintendent Woodfork can serve as interim chief for 120 days," Morrell said. "If there is a legitimate search process that goes beyond that, the council would entertain a short extension."
Morrell said the council would weigh its options once the time limit on Woodfork's term expires.
"There is a fixed period, and there is a clock," Morrell said. "When that clock runs out, we'll move from there."
