By: Rob Masson | fox8live.com | October 24, 2024
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The city’s two largest police organizations are accusing Mayor LaToya Cantrell of delaying NOPD promotions due to an investigation into her relationship with her former bodyguard.
The Metropolitan Crime Commission (MCC) has also received complaints alleging political retribution. These complaints center on NOPD Captain Kendrick Allen, a lead investigator in the internal probe into the mayor’s relationship with former bodyguard NOPD Officer Jeffrey Vappie.
According to the Police Association of New Orleans (PANO), Captain Allen and Captain Precious Banks, who also participated in the Vappie investigation, were among 10 individuals who passed the exam for promotion to major.
However, PANO claims the city deliberately stalled their promotions, along with those of the eight other candidates.
“I don’t think you can see it any other way when the mayor, by law, is prohibited from using her political influence in a promotional process and has done it so blatantly,” said PANO attorney Eric Hessler.
Both PANO and the Black Organization of Police have called for a civil service investigation to determine why these promotions have been delayed. In a letter, the organizations argue that the holdup violates laws designed to protect officers from political retribution.
“I received complaints when this list was halted from a number of police officers. They raised the issue that the mayor had somehow pressured the superintendent into halting the process from going forward,” said Rafael Goyeneche, president of the MCC.
The police organizations are now asking the Civil Service Commission to investigate the delay in promoting 10 captains to major, promotions that would be the first at the NOPD in more than 30 years.
“We have our theories as to why the mayor exercised or illegally exercised her political will, but it doesn’t matter who it is or what the reason is—it’s not allowed by law or policy,” Hessler added.
The MCC points out that promotions are a key component of the consent decree reforms, and any delays could jeopardize the city’s progress in exiting federal oversight.
“The federal monitor indicated that he was aware of it and heard the same complaint,” Goyeneche said.
Beyond potentially slowing the city’s exit from the consent decree process, some fear the delayed promotions could have a damaging effect on the morale of NOPD officers.
“It has hurt morale and crippled the officers’ confidence in the promotional system,” said Hessler.
As of now, the police chief has deferred comment on the situation to Fox 8, while police organizations continue pushing for a full investigation and are requesting an expedited hearing from the Civil Service Commission.
We reached out to the mayor’s office for comment, but have not received a response.