Not one to praise New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell often, WWL’s Newell Normand does approve of her recently announced appointment for the city’s chief of police, at least in some respects.
Normand was impressed when Anne Kirkpatrick, formerly chief of the Oakland Police Department in California, said in a WWL interview that she would not bring anyone into the force with her.
“Music to my ears,” said Normand. “How do you boost morale? By delivering on one of the chief complaints of the rank and file of the NOPD.”
According to USA Today, Kirkpatrick graduated from the University of Memphis and was a former Memphis police officer. She also served as chief of the Spokane Police Department, chief deputy at the King County Sheriff’s Office in Washington State and chief of the Chicago Police Department’s Bureau of Professional Standards. Audacy reported in 2020 that Kirkpatrick had been fired from the Oakland department after three years.
“[Former Oakland mayor Libby] Schaaf would not go into specifics about what prompted her and the commission to dismiss the Police Chief, but commission members, the mayor and chief had reportedly been butting heads for many months,” according to the Audacy reporting.
Normand believes that Kirkpatrick’s experience outside of New Orleans is just what the police force needs. However, one of the New Orleans City Council members have said they would prefer a local candidate.
“The beauty of bringing in someone from the outside is they don't owe anything to anyone internally for their success,” Normand argued.
Listen here to his full thoughts on the matter.
Cantrell said Interim Chief Michelle Woodfork’s last day will be Sept. 22. Kirkpatrick is then expected to step in as interim superintendent while the New Orleans City Council begins confirmation hearings.