NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick has paused a round of officers’ promotions to captain and major following complaints that the process of promoting is flawed according to a report from Nola.com.
Thirty-three officers, who qualified for promotions, were told by Kirkpatrick that her decision to pause the promotions was based on complaints about the grading system, according to a Nola.com report.
The NOPD issued a statement; “The New Orleans Police Department is currently reviewing the promotional process for the ranks of NOPD Captain and Major. While promotions were initially expected, the process is under review to ensure it aligns with the department’s operational needs and the best interest of public safety."
The halted promotions are now being reviewed by a federal monitor connected to the federal consent decree.
“We are very closely looking into questions about a recent major and captain exams, but that’s all we can say at this time," said lead monitor Jonathan Aronie at a public presentation last week.
The newspaper reports that NOPD Cpts. Precious Banks and Kendrick Allen were slated to be promoted to major before the promotion freeze.
Allen and Banks are officers in the department's Public Integrity Bureau which opened a probe into former Officer Jeffrey Vappie’s timesheets during his time as Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s bodyguard.
Vappie has since been federally indicted as a result.
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