Yesterday, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Superintendent Shaun Ferguson announced sweeping changes at NOPD that included an $80 million dollar package aimed at recruitment and retention as well as immediate changes in the department.
Those changes include the reassignment of non-patrol personnel, like administrators and detectives, to the streets to cut down on call times and support patrol officers.
Ferguson said the amount of time each of the personnel will spend patrolling the streets will vary by position and need, with some moved indefinitely.
Fausto Pichardo, the former NYPD Chief of Patrol who has joined NOPD in a consulting capacity, was also introduced to the public for the first time yesterday.
The proposals aimed at recruitment, which have to be approved by New Orleans City Council, include large bonuses, pay increases, and fully funded health insurance. The package also includes education incentives for officers and recruits, for those seeking to pursue post-secondary education, as well as housing support for recruits attending the academy and relocation assistance.
