The New Orleans Police Department held a promotions ceremony Monday for officers that had been delayed a few months.
Last October, the promotions process was halted after questions of bias were raised by the Cantrell administration.
That, in turn, raised questions about whether the mayor's office was interfering in the process. Two captains who were being considered for promotion to major were involved in investigating Officer Jeffrey Vappie, the mayor's former bodyguard.
Vappie has since retired and faces federal charges over payroll irregularities.
Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan, the federal judge presiding over the NOPD consent decree, ruled that the promotions could proceed.
NOPD Superintendent Ann Kirkpatrick officially swore in officers to their new titles:
- Promoted from Chief Deputy Superintendent to Assistant Superintendent - Hans Ganthier
- Promoted from Captain to Major – Precious Banks, Lejon Roberts
- Promoted from Lieutenant to Captain – Rebecca Gubert, Samuel Palumbo Jr.
- Promoted from Sergeant to Lieutenant – Michael Guasco, Thaddeus Murray
- Promoted from Senior Police Officer to Sergeant – Marylou Agustin, Tanisha Sykes-Smith, Michael Haynes, Jesse Roger
These newly promoted officers' new assignments will be announced in the coming days.
In addition, Superintendent Kirkpatrick announced the following appointments regarding NOPD executive leadership:
- Deputy Superintendent Ryan Lubrano will assume command over the Field Operations Bureau
- Deputy Superintendent Nicholas Gernon will assume command over the Investigation and Support Bureau
- Deputy Superintendent Jonette Williams will assume command over the Professional Services and Accountability Bureau
- Stephanie Landry will move into the role of Deputy Superintendent over the Management Services Bureau
