As the New Orleans City Council approved the city budget for the upcoming year, including a package of incentives for recruiting and retaining New Orleans Police officer, councilmember at-large J.P. Morrell repeated his desire to see NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson replaced.
"I'm tired of us dancing around the management issue," said Morrell.
Morrell said exit interviews with departing officers show that leadership, not pay, is what is causing them to quit. And Morrell says that means the NOPD needs new leaders.
"I've been saying this since March of last year: We need a new chief. Period," said Morrell.
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"No matter how much money we throw at these officers, we're not listening to them," the councilmember said. "You can repair the hull of the Titanic over and over, but if the captain keeps driving it into an iceberg, nothing is going to change."
Morrell said pay was fourth on the list of officer's complaints about the department. The leading concern was management that the officers said was riddled with cronyism and nepotism.
The Cantrell Administration has been steadfast in its public support of Ferguson.