Why would an assistant New Orleans city attorney reportedly sit in on an NOPD Public Integrity Bureau interview of a police officer who allegedly had an affair with Mayor LaToya Cantrell?
How did recordings of interviews from the probe wind up in the hands of the New Orleans City Attorney's office, and then get leaked to the public?
Interim New Orleans Police Chief Michelle Woodfork faced some tough questions today on the Newell Normand Show on WWL.
She said they she has not been involved in the investigation at all, but will review it when the time is right.
"The actual investigative report has been done. There has to be a disciplinary hearing, and then um, once it's up for my review and approval or disapproval, that's when the case will be finalized," Woodfork told Normand. "Then I can have the opportunity to review everything about the investigation."
The former Jefferson Parish Sheriff asked the chief if she authorized the city attorney getting copies of interviews.
She initially did not directly answer the question, instead saying, "I have not reviewed or been a part of the Vappie investigation at any point."
When Normand pressed Woodfork, she did acknowledge it was not her that authorized release of the later-leaked recordings.
"I did not," the chief said
Normand also asked Woodfork about reports that a representative from the city attorney's office sat in on a second interview of Vappie. He wanted to know if she authorized that.
"To my understanding, no city attorney was present for an interview with Officer Vappie, but again, I have not reviewed the case," Woodfork replied. "I would have to wait until I get the entire investigation and see exactly what transpired."
Pressed on that issue, she did then say the if that did happen, she did not approve it.
The Public Integrity Bureau is working to determine if Vappie broke any rules or laws as Cantrell's body guard. He was seen on video going in and out of a city-owned apartment with the mayor all hours of the day and night... raising questions about time sheets and possible payroll fraud. Vappie allegedly claimed time he spent with the mayor was part of his professional duties, and he was paid for that time.
The city attorney's office alleged involvement in the probe raises big questions about the integrity of the investigation and how much the mayor has been informed about the probe and why.
The chief told Normand that she still knows nothing about how the probe has been conducted or what the scope of the investigation has covered.
"I have no idea what the investigation is about," Woodfork explained. "I am going to be very thorough in my review."
Normand questioned when she would get involved and asked Woodfork, "You wouldn't want to know whether this is out of the ordinary for a city attorney to go sit in on an interview or get tapes prior to the completion of an investigation?"
She responded, "I don't have any knowledge of how all of that transpired or if it transpired at all, so once I get the investigation, I am going to review it. If there are improprieties or anything, I will say it. I will bring it to light."
Woodfork was insistent that she will protect the interests of the people of New Orleans.
"I have nothing to hide. What you are going to get from me is the truth," she insisted. "What you are going to get from me is total transparency."
The chief said she won't put her integrity on the line for anyone. She didn't say it specifically, but that presumably includes her boss, the mayor.
Woodfork says she does want to take a closer look at how the PIB functions, and how it can be improved.
"We are actually reviewing a lot of things, processes within the Public Integrity Bureau," she announced. "There are a number of things that we have discussed, and we are looking at."
Part of that review includes inviting police organizations and unions to weigh in.
