It has just humbled me throughout my career as to how to work with people, and how you should be a brotherhood-sisterhood with each other while taking care of your community.. NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson will retire at the end of the month, according to a press release from the mayor's office on Tuesday. New Orleans police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson discusses decision to retire, IS WDSU NEWS AT FIVE. Earlier in the day, Ferguson expressed gratitude for his nearly four years as the citys top cop as he defended his stewardship of the force in troubled times, while saying the decision to retire was his. shaun ferguson nopd wife. While Ferguson patrolled the French Quarter and Central Business District, colleagues across the river were involved in an incident that reopened the unhealed scars of the Algiers 7 shootings and erased trust the department had rebuilt under Pennington. Full divisional and bureau contact information here. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WDSU-TV. I just hope he stays prayed up and does the right thing, she said. I am walking out on my own accord, he said. Because the suspects are minors, their names and photos have not been released. Ferguson, 46, first applied to join the NOPD in 1995, when the city had just seen its highest-ever murder count. Earlier this week, Supt. I appreciated the Chiefs recent willingness to listen to the community and the Councils reform recommendations to help NOPD meet the demands of today. He also commanded the NOPDs Fourth District from 2014-2016. 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. Shaun Ferguson announces retirement, La. This is my decision. Ferguson served with the department for 23 years, with three of those years in the top position of the department. "To the men and women of this city, I love you. The appointment would be a historic move. Ferguson, 46, who had been seen as a rising star in NOPD by some observers, has served as a district commander at NOPD since 2014. 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. She served 12 years as a Detective and later as a Sergeant in the departments Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit. It was an overwhelming feeling, but Ill never forget it.. 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.. Whether you are a local resident, visitor, or business, NOLA-311 will provide a prompt, courteous and professional customer service experience. He stresses the virtues of a smooth transition. 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 department is down to fewer than 950 commissioned officers from about 1,175 when he took office. Ferguson shadowed Harrison during his last week in office, and their conversations have continued since then, he said. . Ferguson was hired by NOPD in 1995, NOPD records show. You have permission to edit this article. New Orleans police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson addressed his decision to resign from the NOPD on Wednesday. We just stayed together. Ferguson said he does not remember sending the messages, but that they were not out of character. His tenure as Chief saw the national rise in crime due to the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, but under his diligent leadership, the NOPD persevered. On Election Day (Nov. 8), New Orleans voters approved a Home Rule Charter change that gives the City Council power to confirm or deny mayoral appointees. We just kind of hit it off from there.. The 21-year veteran was a relative unknown when Mayor LaToya Cantrell tapped him to replace outgoing chief Michael Harrison, who left for the top police job in Baltimore. Today, only one officer involved in the case is in prison the one who burned the car with Glovers body inside. She was then assigned as a Lieutenant in the 1st District before being promoted to the rank of Captain in November of 2021. Fergusons Algiers home emerged unscathed, aside from losing power. Emergency Calls: 911. 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. All rights reserved. Several sources have said Cantrell has long been eager to name a Black female police chief as part of her legacy. Harrison served 4 years. We have also seen more illegal guns being taken off our streets, with nearly 2,500 illegal guns seized just this year. New NOPD chief sworn in following emotional send-off for former superintendent, Jonette Williams could be named the next NOPD superintendent. New Orleans, LA 70119, Hours of Operation It was a department in shambles, sullied by terrible crime statistics and violence coming from inside the department itself. Should Ferguson continue to work as a police officer in some capacity, he could keep contributing to his state retirement package. "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. His other jobs shortly after high school included a salesman at Maison Blanche and a mail clerk assistant at Conoco Oil Co. in Algiers. Updated: 2:59 PM CST December 6, 2022. He has held the position for the past six months. He liked the idea of putting the pieces of the puzzle together on complicated investigations. Shaun Ferguson addresses the recent uptick in crime during a news conference on Jan. 19, 2022, in New Orleans. So far, Ferguson has not announced any major changes to his predecessors approach to violent crime or to the departments reform agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, called a consent decree. I encourage anyone that is going through something, I wish them the best. 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. We need a new Chief, period. No additional details were immediately available about the dispute.". See a spelling or grammar error in our story? He recalls her opening the conversation simply: Are you ready to be my chief?. It appears the Mayor might appoint his replacement immediately, in order to avoid the January 1st City Charter change that gives the City Council approval powers. 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. I appreciated the Chiefs recent willingness to listen to the community and the Councils reform recommendations to help NOPD meet the demands of today, Moreno said in a statement following the announcement. 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. According to Ferguson, his family had endured "a lot" during his tenure as chief and thanked them for their support. Ferguson also sits on the board of the Jugs Social Club, which organizes the historically black Krewe of NOMTOC's Carnival parade on the west bank. Dec 7, 2022 - 11:45 am. He was promoted to that job in March 2014, near the end of former superintendent Ronal Serpas tenure. 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. Including victim assistance, accident and incident reports, and how to file complaints or commendations. We have also seen more illegal guns being taken off our streets, with nearly 2,500 illegal guns seized just this year. New Orleans, LA 70119, Phone(504) 658-5757 According to Ferguson, his family had endured "a lot" during his tenure as chief and thanked them for their support. Shootings are up 87%. Published: Sep. 8, 2022 at 8:55 PM PDT. "This has been an emotional week, an emotional month. None of the responding officers noticed signs of impairment, but as per NOPD policy, Ferguson took a blood alcohol test. Ferguson faced difficult times during his tenure as superintendent. Its not because Shaun Ferguson didnt care. After 24 years of dedicated public service to the City of New Orleans, Superintendent Shaun Ferguson will retire at the end of this year. Officers grievances included cronyism, favoritism, and being promoted based on who you know and not on ability or experience, she said of the results. Prior to training the next generation of NOPD officers, he served as Commander of the Second District from 2016 to 2018. So that started a conversation, Ferguson said. NEW ORLEANS ( WGNO) The New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Chief Shaun Ferguson officially announced his retirement. Through a spokesman, Ferguson called the misstatement a typo, adding that he meant to refer to a different metric that did in fact decline according to internal department records. Prior to overseeing the academy, Ferguson served for about three years as commander of NOPDs 2nd District before being moved to the academy assignment in June 2018. We need to support each other as we continue the work of making this city safe for its residents and visitors. (Photo by Brett Duke, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate). Shaun Ferguson named new NOPD chief by Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. 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 is a New Orleans native and a graduate of O. Perry Walker High School in 1990.Ferguson joined the NOPD in December 1998. But the fellow officers brush with death became a formative experience for Ferguson, and one he still remembers clearly nearly two decades later after being sworn in recently as superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department. 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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. Ferguson said his commitment to accountability does not conflict with caring for officers, even ones who have fallen under criminal suspicion. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune). Ferguson emerged from the aftermath of Katrina with no known blotches on his record. Without those raises, there was no way to retain veteran officers who left at historically high levels at a time when recruitment was impaired by COVID. Cantrell told him she hated to see the neighborhood blighted. Cantrell will give Ferguson a traditional sendoff with a "Final Walk" scheduled for Dec. 22 outside Gallier Hall on St. Charles Avenue. NOPD superintendent Shaun Ferguson Sr., left, and outgoing chief Michael Harrison, salute one another during the final walk and swearing-in ceremony at Gallier Hall on St. Charles Ave. Friday, Jan . Various boards, commissions and districts defined in both City and State law. His tenure as Chief saw the national rise in crime due to the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, but under his diligent leadership, the NOPD persevered. But his tenure quickly proved challenging, with the outbreak of the COVID pandemic and a reversal of steep dips in violent crime. He worked for a time as a supervisor in the homicide division. He was left with gunshot wounds to his right lung and left leg. As he ascended into the upper tier of NOPD leadership, Ferguson maintained a near-spotless disciplinary record, with the exception of a single sustained complaint three years ago. I could not have done my job without their support, and I will always be grateful for that. Ferguson saw the department through COVID-19 and two years of the highest violent crime rates since Hurricane Katrina. Ferguson cited family and health reasons as he addressed the media a day after City Hall announced he will retire on Dec. 22. +56 9 8252 6387 (La Reina) +56 9 8435 2712 (Las Condes) marks and spencer ladies coats. How are you making out? Ferguson wrote. Hem; Artiklar; Nummer. Deputy superintendent eyed to become NOPD's first female superintendent. Yet, you faced all of these seemingly insurmountable hurdles with dignity, grace and determination. Your steadfastness in the face of these challenges and tragedies certainly has been a source of comfort to your fellow officers, affected families and victims and our community overall. HE WAS APPOINTED THE CITYS TOP COP IN EARLY 2019 WITH NO CLUE THE CHALLENGES TO COME. Click Here to report it. A policewoman had a hand in killing her partner and two others during a botched robbery at a New Orleans East restaurant, and a policeman had a hit man murder a woman who had filed a brutality complaint against him. After 24 years of dedicated public service to the City of New Orleans, Superintendent Shaun Ferguson will retire at the end of this year. Submit request online Ferguson's career includes numerous periods in the NOPD Second District, which spans from Napoleon Avenue upriver through the Audubon, university, Carrollton, [] Cantrell, whom Ferguson praised next only to God for her support of him as police chief, asked that he take the holiday to consider it. Yet, you faced all of these seemingly insurmountable hurdles with dignity, grace and determination. In December 2022, Mayor Latoya Cantrell appointed Woodfork as Interim Superintendent of the New Orlean Police Department. Emily Lane, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, named the citys new police superintendent, Who is Jonette Williams? 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. Nummer 2 - 2018; Nummer 1 - 2018; 2017. NOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHY HE ADDRESSED THAT EARLIER TODAY. 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. "I also want to thank the citizens of this great city for their kind words and support during my tenure. According to Ferguson, he has no plans after retirement and will remain in the city to see what God has to offer him. We can see that Chief Fergusons strong commitment, willingness to consult with other public safety experts and his well-trained police force are making a difference in this city today. He will be sworn in Friday. Ferguson also asked the community to continue to uplift the police officers of the city, praising the dedication of his officers on the force. (booking photo via Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office). 2018. His first court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday morning. NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Superintendent Shaun Ferguson, flanked by city councilmembers and assorted . New Orleans NOPD Superintendent Shaun D. Ferguson, Sr. acknowledges the L.B. "I am grateful for the opportunity we had to work so closely together to improve our citys public safety through a collaborative, holistic approach and through working in tandem with other City departments. 113 talking about this. Updated: Jan 19, 2023 / 03:30 PM CST. View Crime Maps, UCR Stats, NOPD Calls for Service and more. If Ferguson had been a regular patrolman, he would have been suspended for a couple of days. He also says he believes the next Superintendent of the NOPD should come from inside the NOPD. It was too perilous. I could not have done my job without their support, and I will always be grateful for that. Laura McKnight covers crime and breaking news for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. 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. Hours after he was sworn in, a woman accused his son Shane of punching her in the face, according to police. When muckraking blogger Leigh Ferguson snoops down the wrong alley, she gets swept into X's bloody war with a politically powerful crime lord." Provided by publisher. Fergusons tenure he would have reached four years as chief next month -- is fairly standard for New Orleans police chiefs, who serve at the will of the mayor. Ed Chervenak, a political scientist at UNO, said that he expects Cantrell to do so, and doubted that it would change her already sour relationship with the council. June 14, 2022; indigo child symbol Afterward, Ferguson began his long rise through the departments ranks. The 2nd District comprises the Carrollton, Freret, Leonidas neighborhoods and Uptown, all within Cantrells former council district. 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.