On the heels of a FOX 8 investigation by Lee Zurik that revealed New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and one particular member of her security team have consistently spent hours together during the work week inside the city-owned Upper Pontalba Apartments, Newell Normand sees glaring failures by the New Orleans Police Department.
According to Zurik’s report, the lone member of the mayor’s security who has spent time inside the apartment with her is a member of the New Orleans Police Department. Zurik’s viewing of a single public camera fixed on the entrance of the Pontalba captured the mayor and that officer inside the apartment off hours and on occasion, well into the early morning hours. On the Newell Normand Show Thursday, Newell said his concerns are not about what the mayor does on her private time, but more with the taxpayer money that goes into the apartment and the security team that follows her.
“I know there are those that are probably saying why is this important? Well, because you’re financing it. You’re paying for it, that’s why it’s important. Not to mention the fact that we have a human capital shortage in the New Orleans Police Department. And if they’re not really doing legitimate policing activities while on this security detail for the mayor, I think there are needs somewhere else, right? It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure this out” said Newell.
For a mayor who has constantly cited her concerns about her safety as a black woman, the video showed several instances of that particular NOPD officer leaving the apartments at different times than the mayor. Some clips show the two walking in opposite directions. Newell says if the mayor is worried about her safety, then her behavior around the NOPD officer who accompanies her in and out of the Pontalba tells a different story. Newell said the security team surrounding the mayor should be adhering to stricter security protocols. There ought to be repeated threat assessments and evaluations of their movements in and out of public buildings. Newell emphasized that security team should consist of a rotation of individuals to reduce the chance of complacency. Despite his confusion with the mayor, Newell says the NOPD’s Superintendent should be called into account.
“I’m just going to jump right to the security perspective of all of this. I don’t understand what it is that’s going on here. Chief Ferguson, I’m going to punt this right to you. This is your baby. This is your department. These are the men and women that work for you. You need to step in and do something here. If this is legitimately about security, I know that you know that this is not the appropriate way for this to be handled. Not now, not ever,” said Newell.
Newell has faced death threats during his time as sheriff of Jefferson Parish.
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