NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Police Department has a new police chief.
The announcement that interim Superintendent Lt. Michael Harrison will be the permanent police superintendent came as community leaders across the metro area gathered for the annual Night Out Against Crime.
A crowded Federal City park in Algiers burst into applause as city and state leaders introduced the community to their new police chief, Lt. Michael Harrison.
"I am really thrilled," said Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who wasted no time naming a new chief. "He is a guy that has great experience, with 23 years, the National Guard, he has a Master's degree in criminal justice and he's a guy that has great integrity."
Harrison, who has been with the department for 23 years, left his post as the 7th District commander in August to serve as the interim police chief. During those eight weeks, Landrieu said he searched both nationally and internally before making his decision.
"When I made him the interim chief, he had an opportunity to lose it, but not only did he not lose it, he gained the trust and confident of people throughout the city," Landrieu said.
As the new police chief, Harrison hopes his appointment will send a positive to officers and improve morale within the department.
"I am the poster child," says Harrison. "This is the picture of the future; that you can rise to leadership, to executive leadership, in the New Orleans Police Department.
At the New Orleans Night Out Against Crime, Harrison made his first speech since being named the new police chief, promising to continue what he has been doing.
Residents say it's that commitment to community involvement that makes him the right man for the job.
"We had him in the 7th and I like a lot of the initiatives he brought when he was in the 7th District," said Stanley Paige. "Hopefully he can incorporate some of that citywide."
"You need somebody that knows the community, knows the culture, knows the changes in the community, and Chief Harrison is just that person," says Algiers resident Beryal Ragas.
While serving as the interim superintendent, Harrison made and effort to get out in the community to build relationships and repair those that are broken. He said that will not stop now that he is chief.
"That will continue every day of my career, balancing my time between the officers who working in my department, developing them and developing those relationships in the community," Harrison said.
