NEW ORLEANS — Shortly after former Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office chief financial officer filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Susan Hutson, the former prosecutor-turned-sheriff responded to David Trautenberg's allegations of misconduct.
Read Sheriff Hutson's full statement below:
"We understand the public's interest in a recent lawsuit filed by a disgruntled employee against myself as the Sheriff of the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office (OPSO). We take these allegations seriously, and we want to emphasize our steadfast commitment to transparency, ethics, and the highest standards of conduct within our organization.
"Since elected, I consistently strive to lead the OPSO with integrity and accountability. My tenure has been marked by initiatives and reforms aimed at serving our entire community effectively and in full compliance with the law.
"We want to underscore that this employee was hired as our Chief Financial Officer through a competitive national search in June 2022. While his role as CFO was integral to our financial operations and leadership team, his conduct throughout his tenure with OPSO was inconsistent with the mission, vision, values and goals of this department. It is evident this lawsuit is a result of his firing and the very public nature in which he lost his job.
"Allegations of misconduct, including any misuse of public funds, are taken very seriously. We dispute the allegations in the lawsuit but remain committed to a fair and comprehensive resolution through the legal process. We will fully cooperate with any investigations and proceedings.
"As the Sheriff of Orleans Parish, I am dedicated to upholding the highest ethical and legal standards and will keep my attention on my duties of providing care, custody and control. We will continue to serve the residents of Orleans Parish with unwavering professionalism and accountability. Our commitment to transparency means we will provide further updates as appropriate.
"We have confidence in the legal system's ability to fairly and impartially address disputes of this nature, and we believe that the truth will prevail. Lastly, I want to extend my gratitude to all who have personally reached out to me with encouraging words and who recognize that the allegations in this lawsuit are inconsistent with my values as a person."
Trautenberg, now working in Colorado, is asking for damages for lost wages as well as punitive damages and attorney’s fees.
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