Now Ferguson must apply those lessons to controlling crime in a city that is still one of the nations most violent, while implementing a highly complex, federally mandated reform plan designed to keep something like the Algiers 7 shootings from ever happening again. Its unclear if Noel will remain in that role. After 24 years of dedicated public service to the City of New Orleans, Superintendent Shaun Ferguson will retire at the end of this year. MY FAMILY HAS ENDURED A LOT. InspireNOLA charter school network in November honored Ferguson with a community service award. Shaun Ferguson, a 24-year veteran of the department announced that he would be stepping down from his post and into retirement to spend more time with his family, effective Thursday, Dec. 22. or dial 311 or (504) 539-3266. Ferguson issued the following statement regarding his retirement: "I want to thank Mayor Cantrell and her administration for their constant support over the past four years. NPR's Audie Cornish talks with New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson about the summer spike in violence and how the city has changed their policing efforts under a Justice Department order. Since then, the city has faced countless challenges the Hard Rock Hotel collapse, two major hurricanes, a global pandemic, global inflation and a nationwide shortage of public safety personnel that New Orleans was certainly not immune to. It would be disingenuous to the appointee and the people of this city if there were any attempt to circumvent this process, therefore, I am looking forward to the opportunity to engage the public in a community discussion on this important next step.. In terms of the way theyre behaving toward each other, I'm not sure how much worse it can get," said Chervenak. Hurricane Ida and civil unrest in the wake of George Floyd's murder in Minnesota added to a grim scenario for police, Ferguson noted, as he urged the public and media to "look at the glass half full.". She served 12 years as a Detective and later as a Sergeant in the departments Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit. Ferguson announced his retirement Tuesday, Dec. 6 . According to Ferguson, his family had endured "a lot" during his tenure as chief and thanked them for their support. Ferguson, along with NOPD 4th District Commander Ceasar Ruffin, appeared alongside Cantrell in August to speak at a peace rally in Eleanor McMain Secondarys gym, to honor slain 15-year-old Chance Smith, a freshman at the school, who was fatally shot by another teen in Algiers on Aug. 18. The New Orleans Superintendent of Police has resigned. View online City tools and other City websites. MondayFriday Ferguson was sworn in as superintendent in January 2019 after serving as the Commander of the Educational and Training Division. He recalls her opening the conversation simply: Are you ready to be my chief?. Join me live on @FOX8NOLA at 5PM and 9PM for analysis. "I would like to extend the most heartfelt thank you to Chief Ferguson for your nearly 25 years of service, selflessness and sacrifice, especially in accepting my appointment of you as Chief in January 2019. SO SUPERINTENDENT SEAN FERGUSON ADMITTED HAS BEEN A REALLY EMOTIONAL WEEK AND THAT HES ACTUALLY BEEN THINKING ABOUT RETIREMENT. Since then, the city has faced countless challenges the Hard Rock Hotel collapse, two major hurricanes, a global pandemic, global inflation and a nationwide shortage of public safety personnel that New Orleans was certainly not immune to. My parents were not comfortable with me being on the job.. Ferguson rose up as a beat cop in the 4th District, patrolling the Fischer public housing development in Algiers. Ferguson will retire at year's end. As New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Shaun Ferguson reflected on his impending retirement while denying he was shoved out, a chorus rose Wednesday for Mayor . Interim Superintendent Michelle M. Woodfork is a legacy within the NOPD and is deeply rooted within the community. This time Ferguson and his parents saw a different police force. We must ensure that the next chief commits to upholding constitutional policing and transforming the department. Updated: Jan 19, 2023 / 03:30 PM CST. Growing library of dashboards tracking City dat and initiatives. Superintendent Woodfork is a native New Orleanian and life-long resident of New Orleans East. It was during this period, on March 28, 2001, that Barnes was shot in the Fischer complex. Barnes was hit, and blood poured out of him as his fellow officers tried to help. Amid mounting pressure, New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson will retire from his position at the end of this year, according to a statement from Mayor LaToya Cantrell. During his tenure, he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Southern University of New Orleans, where he also received a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice. I could not have done my job without their support, and I will always be grateful for that. Yet, you faced all of these seemingly insurmountable hurdles with dignity, grace and determination. Williams was recently promoted to Deputy Superintendent in June. New Orleans police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson discusses decision to retire, IS WDSU NEWS AT FIVE. As New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Shaun Ferguson reflected on his impending retirement while denying he was shoved out, a chorus rose Wednesday for Mayor LaToya Cantrell to look far and wide for a new chief. ITS A DECISION SAYS WAS HIS AND HIS ALONE. It was in the latter job that he weathered Hurricane Katrina. U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan earlier this year pumped the brakes on plans to move the NOPD into a two-year offramp from federal oversight. Ferguson quickly received a reminder that being the top cop comes with greater scrutiny. He will be sworn in Friday. None of the responding officers noticed signs of impairment, but as per NOPD policy, Ferguson took a blood alcohol test. After a long, painful recovery, Barnes survived. He urged the council and other city leaders to work together and to stop political showmanship and "show up to the table" with open communication and ideas. I just hope he stays prayed up and does the right thing, she said. She was then assigned as a Lieutenant in the 1st District before being promoted to the rank of Captain in November of 2021. New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson talks to reporters outside the federal courthouse in New Orleans on Aug. 17, 2022. THE OUTGOING SUPERINTENDENT DISAGREES. The cop said he thought Glover had a gun. "Everything I have been through, this department has been through, has been by his (God's) order and I will continue to follow that." Another car crashed into his NOPD cruiser. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. bloomingdale football tickets; party wear saree with stitched blouse He didnt have the political support from the political leadership to offer raises to officers that the crime commission and other groups called for in 2020. After 24 years of dedicated public service to the City of New Orleans, Superintendent Shaun Ferguson will retire at the end of this year. After 24 years of service in a profession that takes a lot out of the individuals who answer this call, it is time for me to take a step back and place more priority on my family and my own well-being. Carjackings are up 103% and armed robberies are up 29%.. "This has been an emotional week, an emotional month. Ferguson, who turned 50 this year, said he didn't change his mind. NEW ORLEANS ( WGNO) The New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Chief Shaun Ferguson officially announced his retirement. New Orleans police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson speaks during a news conference in New Orleans on Dec. 7, 2022. "Chief Ferguson has been dealing with an issue that no police chief has had to deal with in 100 years," Goyeneche said. Shane Ferguson, the 21-year-old son of NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson, was booked into the Orleans Justice Center jail on a charge of domestic-abuse battery Tuesday night, Jan. 22, 2019. Unrated. From a nearly 50-year low in homicides in 2019, shootings and murders have surged across the city. "After 24 years of service in a profession that takes a lot out of the individuals who answer this call, it is time for me to take a step back and place more priority on my family and my own well-being. Since then, she has been assigned to five of the NOPD's eight districts at the rank of Patrol Officer, Sergeant, and Lieutenant. Tell my wife that I love her, Barnes said. Officers issued a warrant for Shane Ferguson, who turned himself in within days. Other Glovers attended Central Citys First Emanuel Baptist Church with him. We have also seen more illegal guns being taken off our streets, with nearly 2,500 illegal guns seized just this year. Submit request online He said that the data was not an indictment against officers who work for the NOPD and expressed his appreciation for the officers in the department. In 2020, everything changed so cold. Harrison left with positive approval ratings and glowing reviews from local politicians. THIS IS MY DECISION. It was a department in shambles, sullied by terrible crime statistics and violence coming from inside the department itself. Ferguson said his commitment to accountability does not conflict with caring for officers, even ones who have fallen under criminal suspicion. A 17-year-old male, a 16-year-old female and two 15-year-old females were booked at the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center on one count of second-degree murder, according to the NOPD. Fergusons first assignment was in Algiers, the same neighborhood where he grew up. He said Monday he was raised in the Lower 9th Ward before moving to Algiers. Ferguson said the detectives on the case deserve the credit for the arrest and conviction of the suspect, Kendall Harrison, whos now serving a life sentence. Ferguson's monthly financial retirement package would be $12,524 if he chooses not to work for a police department following his retirement from the NOPD, according to the Louisiana Municipal Police Employees Retirement System. At the time of his appointment to Chief, he was serving as the Commander of the Educational and Training Division, which oversees the police academy. We must ensure that the next chief commits to upholding constitutional policing and transforming the department. Good luck brother.. We as commanding officers should be held to a higher standard, Ferguson said. He has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Southern . This is a crisis: New Orleans murder rate per capita pacing highest in U.S. Police say the suspected shooter is an unknown female. Harrison served 4 years. "Everything I have been through, this department has been through, has been by his (God's) order and I will continue to follow that.". He worked for a time as a supervisor in the homicide division. We just stayed together. "It is vital that the community continue its support for this department. Commander Shaun Ferguson who spent much of his 21-year-career in the New Orleans Police Department in leadership roles in Uptown districts is Mayor LaToya Cantrell's choice to be the department's next chief. I had a little knowledge of some of the players out there, Ferguson said. Shaun Ferguson addressed the public just one day after he announced his retirement from the . It was too perilous. Deputy superintendent eyed to become NOPD's first female superintendent. Ferguson's final walk and salute will be held outside of Gallier Hall on Thursday, Dec. 22 at 11 a.m.About Ferguson: Sources say Jonette Williams could be named the next NOPD superintendent. By Ken Daley. Shootings are up 87%. Before this, he commanded NOPDs Fourth District from 2014 to 2016. Sitting in his new corner office on the top floor of police headquarters, Ferguson smiled when he was asked about his favorite moments from that first tour of duty. The summer after graduating high school, he also worked as a deputy for the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office, guarding inmates at the jail. This is New Orleans. The speedy transition meant the public had little chance to probe Fergusons background before he was named chief, a process that is beginning as he takes the reins. New Orleans, LA 70119, Phone(504) 658-5757 Please include the headline. Under NOPD policy, however, no officer can drive with any amount of alcohol in their blood. Shaun Ferguson promises his four children will never receive special treatment. View spatial City data including the popular Property Viewer and Streetwise. He called the profession of a police officer a "noble calling," saying it was a job that he put before his family for a long time. Son of new NOPD chief arrested after domestic dispute, Laura McKnight, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department NOPD Interim Chief Michelle Woodfork You cant ignore he just kept getting one left hook after another.. But his tenure quickly proved challenging, with the outbreak of the COVID pandemic and a reversal of steep dips in violent crime. Access open City data via download or API. I did not ever imagine myself on the other side of the desk as the commanding officer, he said. They've been 100 percent, anything I needed, anything I wanted, Barnes said. THERES A LEVEL RESPECT THAT WAS GIVEN BACK TO THOSE OFFICERS THAT ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND THAT WASNT THERE BEFORE. He opened it up to fellow officers. Shaun Ferguson, who served as an NOPD commander, was sworn in Friday as NOPDs new superintendent. The appointment would be a historic move. He will be sworn in Friday. "After 24 years of dedicated public service to the City . The George Floyd social justice movement, Goyeneche said. Still, Ferguson acknowledged politics as he described a toxic environment right now. He declined to assess Williams as a potential successor while he rattled off names of other NOPD brass he said were qualified to succeed him in the post. Ferguson served with the department for 23 years, with three of those years in the top position of the department. Council President Helena Moreno says her office recently conducted a survey that showed 85% of NOPD officers are dissatisfied with the departments management. Ferguson said he first met Cantrell as a lieutenant in the 2nd District, where he served from 2012 to 2014. Its not because Shaun Ferguson didnt know what to do. Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche said yesterday that NOPD Superintendent Shaun D. Ferguson deserves the highest accolades for his handling of the department since the pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests began. "I was not forced out. The 2nd District comprises the Carrollton, Freret, Leonidas neighborhoods and Uptown, all within Cantrells former council district. During his tenure, he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Southern University of New Orleans and also received a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice. His predecessor, Michael Harrison, received the same treatment when he left the NOPD to lead Baltimore's police department. Ferguson said it was time to focus on family, and he felt confident that he had made a difference in his time with the police department. Published: 2:34 PM CST December 6, 2022. Cantrell revealed Ferguson as her permanent choice on Jan. 14, breaking with the tradition of forming a search committee or appointing an interim chief who would be given time to meet the community before getting the job permanently. We need a new Chief, period. You have permission to edit this article. He has a bachelors degree in business administration from Southern University of New Orleans, NOPD said in a 2015 news release about his promotion to 2nd District commander. (Photo by Brett Duke, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate). Ferguson heaped praise on the officers who remain while urging greater public support for them. Click Here to report it. A 20-year veteran of the New Orleans Police Department is an unconventional contender for the role of top cop not only because of who she isa, Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Another cop drove a car with Glovers body inside it to the levee and set it on fire. He also says he believes the next Superintendent of the NOPD should come from inside the NOPD. Prior to training the next generation of NOPD officers, he served as Commander of the Second District from 2016 to 2018. Most notably, she received the Purple Heart Letter Award in 2017 after being struck by a drunk driver who plowed his vehicle into a crowd of 30 Endymion parade goers while she was on parade duty. Ferguson oversaw a department plagued by steep officer losses and few new recruits to replace them, while facing criticism over a lack of a plan to deal with the surge in violence as the force shrank. I JOINED THIS DEPARTMENT IN 1998 IN AN EFFORT TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY. Ferguson was hand-picked by Cantrell and had previously served as head of the training academy and commander of the second and fourth police districts in New Orleans. We need to support each other as we continue the work of making this city safe for its residents and visitors. Officers grievances included cronyism, favoritism, and being promoted based on who you know and not on ability or experience, she said of the results. BUT SAID HE WILL BE STAYING IN NEW ORLEANS. His application remained on file, however. Shaun Ferguson announces retirement, La. As the number of officers started to go down, we saw a violent crime surge in the city - up 136% over the last three years. But his record is not without a blemish. However, Superintendent Harrison, the man Ferguson describes as his mentor, ordered him to serve a five-day suspension. His . They stayed connected while Ferguson moved between posts. Over this last year, the city has seen serious reductions in crime, such as aggravated assaults, sexual assaults, business and residential burglaries and non-fatal shootings. Earlier in his career, Ferguson had arrested some members of the extended Glover family when they were still kids, and had tried to set them on the right path. Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department NEW ORLEANS ( WGNO) Former New Orleans Police Department Supt. Emergency Calls: 911. Those leadership attributes may have won the notice of then-Superintendent Ronal Serpas, who named Ferguson as commander of the 4th District in 2014 to replace a captain who had been sidelined amid an internal investigation. Well change as we need to change, he said. His community-focused approach has helped mend the relationships between our officers and our residents. Woodfork is a graduate of St. Marys Academy High School. According to Ferguson, he said Cantrell asked him to reconsider, but he told her that it was time to "go home.". "City Council President Helena Moreno released the following statement: Superintendent Ferguson faced significant challenges over the past several years, and I want to thank him for his hard work and dedication to the people of our City. I also want to thank the men & women of the NOPD for their continued hard work and service its citizens. MORGANS HEY TRAVERS. Nummer 2 - 2018; Nummer 1 - 2018; 2017. City Council President Helena Moreno released the following statement: Superintendent Ferguson faced significant challenges over the past several years, and I want to thank him for his hard work and dedication to the people of our City. woman accused of using aunts debit card for 136 DoorDash orders held on preset $18 million bond, Newly installed Methodist bishop makes Louisiana history, called for Fergusons resignation last week, voters approved a Home Rule Charter change. Jacob Lundy, a former NOPD officer who resigned in 2017 after 10 years and works as a criminal justice consultant, worked under Ferguson in the 2nd District when he joined the department. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. I could not have done my job without their support, and I will always be grateful for that. Ferguson joined the NOPD in December 1998. He also thanked Cantrell for supporting him throughout his tenure as chief, saying she often stood by his side when others called for him to stand down. Before then, Serpas sat in the superintendent's seat for a little more than 4 years. You had some high tension between the community and the Police Department, he said. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell on Jan. 14 announced the 46-year-old Ferguson as her choice to replace former chief Michael Harrison, who has taken a job as police commissioner in Baltimore. We just kind of hit it off from there.. #NOLA. Deputy superintendent eyed to become NOPD's first female superintendent. Earlier this week, Supt. Prior to training the next generation of NOPD officers, he served as Commander of the Second District from 2016 to 2018. The DA and Ferguson eventually put their differences aside and formed a partnership where the two launched a Serial Crimes Prevention and Prosecution Initiative. Ferguson announced his retirement from the NOPD a few weeks ago. We need a new Chief., Superintendent Ferguson faced significant challenges over the past several years, and I want to thank him for his hard work and dedication to the people of our City. According to Ferguson, he has no plans after retirement and will remain in the city to see what God has to offer him. To the men and women of the New Orleans Police Department, I love you," Ferguson said.
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