Susan Hutson, the head of the New Orleans Independent Police Monitor, has resigned her post and is expected to challenge Marlin Gusman for the post of Orleans Parish Sheriff.
Hutson was on a leave of absence when she decided to pull the plug on her position as the IPM in an email sent to media outlets.
According to the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate, “I have poured my heart and soul into this office to serve this amazing community,” Hutson wrote. “Yet with all that this office, our community and a bevy of stakeholders have achieved in the past 11 years, the work to emphasize justice over criminal in the criminal justice system is far from over. Now, more than ever, our system of justice requires a new level of civic engagement.”
Hutson has her work cut out for her, she will need to qualify for the October 9th election by July 14.
Hutson’s term as the Independent Police Monitor was set to expire at the end of the year.
Interim Director Susan Czement praised Hutson as she was making her exit.
“Susan will be missed, but I don’t want anyone to believe that there’s going to be a gap in services to the community,” she said. “She trained us and prepared us for the idea of an eventual departure, and we feel ready.”
