NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says NOPD officer promotions are now paused as five independent assessors can review the promotional process.
Kirkpatrick also says the Office of Inspector General will investigate anonymously reported allegations of cheating within the promotion testing process.
“As Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department, I am committed to upholding a fair and transparent promotional process. The recent exams were conducted under an approved framework involving Civil Service and NOPD Deputy Chiefs. To reinforce confidence in this process, five independent assessors will repeat the analysis conducted by the Deputy Chiefs, following the same guidelines, training, and scoring criteria to ensure accuracy and impartiality,” Chief Kirkpatrick said.
“This independent review is expected to conclude within two weeks. During this time, promotions will be paused, though the current rankings will remain intact unless evidence of bias or misconduct is found. Additionally, the Office of Inspector General will investigate anonymous reported allegations of cheating, and any substantiated claims will lead to swift disciplinary action.”
“I am dedicated to preserving the integrity of our department and maintaining the trust of our officers and the community. Updates will be shared as this process moves forward.”
The official announcement from Kirkpatrick comes as just last month Mayor LaToya Cantrell paused a round of high-ranking police promotions which led police officers' groups to question if the decision was politically motivated.
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