With New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson set to retire on Thursday, questions remain as to who will run the New Orleans Police Department once Ferguson leaves office.
However, we could find out as early as Tuesday when Mayor LaToya Cantrell speaks to the media.
Multiple law enforcement and criminal justice stakeholders in the city have called on Mayor Cantrell to conduct a nationwide search for the NOPD's next leader. Doing so would force Cantrell to wait until after January 1 to make her selection, thereby subjecting her pick to city council scrutiny and confirmation. In November, New Orleans voters approved a city charter amendment requiring the mayor's executive appointments, including her appointments for police superintendent, to be confirmed by the city council.
According to WWL-TV, the mayor has spoken with current officers about taking the superintendent's job, even if only temporarily. Citing sources, the television station reports that Cantrell discussed an interim superintendent's role with those officers. The TV station's sources also reportedly said that Chief Deputy Jonette Williams and Captain Michelle Woodfork are in the mayor's top two. The sources added that Williams is favored by the mayor for the gig.
Cantrell has not publicly indicated how she will proceed.
