NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans and the United States Department of Justice have filed a joint motion requesting that the court initiate the sustainment period of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) Consent Decree. This two-year period will be guided by the sustainment plan, which was included as part of this filing.
“Today represents the power of our community in the City of New Orleans. It demonstrates that we have continued to do the work, and I am proud of the women and men of the New Orleans Police Department and their dedication to help get us to this important point. This has been a priority of my administration, and I have been laser focused since the beginning of my tenure, pushing forward critical reforms, and investing in public safety to build a stronger, more resilient City. It proves that we are stronger together when we commit to real, transformative change,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
“This moment marks the culmination of years of hard work and progress. We have arrived at a point where the NOPD can confidently move into the sustainment phase of the consent decree. Our officers, staff, and leadership have worked tirelessly to build a department that the people of New Orleans can trust and be proud of,” said Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick. “We remain committed to continuing our efforts in delivering a constitutionally based police department for a world-class city and I thank Mayor Cantrell, City Attorney Donesia Turner, past NOPD Superintendents, and all City officials for their leadership and support in reforming the NOPD for the people.”
Today marks a significant milestone for New Orleans community as the New Orleans Police Department enters the Sustainment Period of the federal consent decree. This transition signals that the department has made measurable progress in constitutional policing and reflects our collective commitment to ensuring these reforms become part of the department’s culture,” said Criminal Justice Commissioner Tenisha Stevens. “While much has been accomplished, this moment is not the end of our efforts but the start of a new chapter to ensure that the positive changes we’ve worked toward are not only maintained, but furthered. Together, we will continue working toward a safer, more just New Orleans. The filing reflects over a decade of reforms and improvements made by the NOPD, and this joint motion is the next step in ensuring those gains are sustained over the long term.”
The official filings can be accessed here: https://nola.gov/nopd/nopd-consent-decree.
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