New Orleans Police Superintendent Ann Kirkpatrick has plans to grow the NOPD. The department's ranks have plummeted since the pandemic of 2020.
"We're right around 900," the chief said. She told WWL-TV she wants to hire 300 more than that.
"The goal would be to get back to the 1,200 mark," Kirkpatrick said. "That's the goal."
But she says that does not mean they will hire anybody to wear a badge.
"I will not fill a seat for someone who shouldn't have a gun and someone who shouldn't be making decisions of authority and power over others," she said.
Kirkpatrick said that the reductions in crime in New Orleans -- more than double the rate at which crime is dropping nationally -- shows NOPD is a winning team, and the best of the best are attracted to winners.
"That's who we are," she said. "We're going to be the winning team and are the winning team."






