Anne Kirkpatrick, a veteran cop but newcomer to New Orleans, gets city council OK as police chief
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Anne Kirkpatrick, a veteran police official who has served as chief of departments in Spokane, Washington, and Oakland, California, won City Council approval as New Orleans’ new police chief Thursday on a 6-1 vote.
Kirkpatrick had been serving as interim chief after Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced the appointment in June, pending council approval.
Hailed as a reformer by her supporters, Kirkpatrick takes over a department that has been operating under a broad reform agreement with the U.S. Justice Department that was approved by a federal judge in 2013. It was the result of federal investigations growing out of deadly police shootings of civilians in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
She also must deal with a force that has been steadily dropping in manpower in recent years, even amid jumps in violent crime during the COVID-19 pandemic.
No charges in deadly 2019 Hard Rock hotel building collapse in New Orleans, grand jury rules
Reprieve for New Orleans as salt water creeping up the Mississippi River slows its push inland
Texas asks appeal judges to let it keep floating barrier in place on the Rio Grande
Kirkpatrick succeeds Shaun Ferguson, who retired last year. Michelle Woodfork took over the chief’s duties on an interim basis and had applied for the job
Voters approved a measure last year granting the council the right to approve or reject a mayor’s nominee for police chief. Kirkpatrick’s approval came despite some complaints from council members that the selection process had not been sufficiently transparent.
Thursday’s council vote followed a council committee hearing last week in which Kirkpatrick answered questions, outlined plans and pledged to be fair, independent and open to council member’s opinions.
Council Vice President Helena Moreno, who had expressed support for Woodfork in the past, voted for Kirkpatrick and wished her success.
“We need an independent and determined chief laser-focused on improving public safety. Anne Kirkpatrick has committed to being this type of leader, and I will hold her accountable for that,” Moreno said. “I want this new chief, who was selected by the Mayor, to be successful — we need her to be successful.”
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
