New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has signed a contract with the International Association of Chiefs of Police to begin a nationwide search for a new NOPD Superintendent. The president of the New Orleans City Council seemed to be wondering if it was ever going to happen.
It was six weeks ago that Mayor Cantrell's office announced the International Association of Chiefs of Police would lead the search. Now that the contract has been signed, it can get underway. New Orleans City Council President J.P. Morrell told WWL's Tommy Tucker that this should give the public the confidence it needs in the new chief, whoever that may be.
"I think that having a national search is essential," said Morrell. "I encourage Chief Woodfork to be in the national search."
Chief Woodfork's term as interim chief is set to expire in seven weeks. The national search could take as long as 17 weeks. Morrell said he is open to extending Woodfork, if he's satisfied that a national search is underway.
"My understanding is that when an interim is appointed, we provided an exception where we could extend an interim period," said Morrell, but he does not want to make that a habit.
"It would defeat the purpose of having an interim if you could just simply reappoint them," Morrell said.
