The City of New Orleans will soon bid farewell to a great leader, a great partner and a great friend. 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. Fergusons Algiers home emerged unscathed, aside from losing power. Cantrell led the Broadmoor Improvement Association at the time. 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. "I also want to thank the citizens of this great city for their kind words and support during my tenure. Ferguson called the back and forth between him and the DAs office unwarranted, and was firm in his message of the challenges the NOPD faced in regard to violent crime. Various boards, commissions and districts defined in both City and State law. I JOINED THIS DEPARTMENT IN 1998 IN AN EFFORT TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY. 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. Shaun Ferguson addresses the recent uptick in crime during a news conference on Jan. 19, 2022, in New Orleans. Updated: Dec 7, 2022 / 09:40 AM CST. Ferguson is a New Orleans native and a graduate of O. Perry Walker High School in 1990. We went out there every day with courage, determination.. Ferguson heaped praise on the officers who remain while urging greater public support for them. 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. 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. She has a long family history of law enforcement careers, including her father, who joined the force in 1968 as a cadet, and her uncle Warren G. Woodfork Sr., who was appointed as the first African American Superintendent of the NOPD. 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. Prior to training the next generation of NOPD officers, he served as Commander of the Second District from 2016 to 2018. NEW ORLEANS In a seismic shake-up that has been widely rumored for months, NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson is . As Superintendent, Chief Ferguson helped shape the NOPD into a strong, trustworthy, professional and efficient department, capable of repairing the broken rapport between the NOPD and our citizens and business owners. "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 BEFORE THANKSGIVING. I talk to him almost every day, Ferguson said. Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department NOPD Interim Chief Michelle Woodfork His community-focused approach has helped mend the relationships between our officers and our residents. Overall, Ferguson's work history, coupled with interviews with fellow cops, community members and other public officials, shows an officer equally comfortable charging through doors as shaking hands. He was promoted to sergeant in 2007 and returned to the homicide beat from 2011 to 2012. Shaun Ferguson named new NOPD chief by Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. "About Jonette Williams:Jonette Williams spent most of her career working in the Public Affairs Division and the Fourth District.Williams was recently promoted to Deputy Superintendent in June. Several sources have said Cantrell has long been eager to name a Black female police chief as part of her legacy. 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. 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. Superintendent Woodfork is a 32-year veteran of the department, joining the NOPD on Jan. 27, 1991. Sources tell FOX 8 recently promoted Deputy Superintendent Jonette Williams is the frontrunner to be tapped by Cantrell to replace Ferguson. How are you making out? Ferguson wrote. Noel and Ferguson worked together in the 2nd District when Noel was the commander there. Its not because Shaun Ferguson didnt know what to do. According to Ferguson, his family had endured "a lot" during his tenure as chief and thanked them for their support. She served 12 years as a Detective and later as a Sergeant in the departments Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit. A majority of City Council members were among those chafing at word that Cantrell has already chosen a successor in Jonette Williams, a deputy police chief who would become the first woman to lead the NOPD. Barnes was hit, and blood poured out of him as his fellow officers tried to help. His application remained on file, however. He gave this city his very best - the safety and . He was a 13-year veteran of the NOPD. BEEN THROUGH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, CIVIL UNREST, HURRICANES, TWO WEEKS WITHOUT ELECTRICITY AND NONE OF THAT STUFF. He opened it up to fellow officers. "I also want to thank the citizens of this great city for their kind words and support during my tenure. Ferguson later explained that he had been drinking the night before at an Easter celebration. Wed be foolish not to at least look and see what we got.. Council President Helena Moreno says her office recently conducted a survey that showed 85% of NOPD officers are dissatisfied with the departments management. 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. 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. Cantrell has yet to name Ferguson's replacement, though multiple sources inside and outside the police department say she's chosen Williams. Ecommerce; beauty lol pussy. The homicide squad appealed to the Southern University at New Orleans graduate. Another car crashed into his NOPD cruiser. Hours after he was sworn in, a woman accused his son Shane of punching her in the face, according to police. Since then, she has been assigned to five of the NOPD's eight districts at the rank of Patrol Officer, Sergeant, and Lieutenant. 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. 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. His sons legal problems aside, Ferguson said he is focused on the task of overseeing the roughly 1,200 officers who patrol what is still one of the countrys most dangerous cities. He commanded the 4th District, the 2nd District and the training academy over the last six years. 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. Ferguson also asked the community to continue to uplift the police officers of the city, praising the dedication of his officers on the force. According to Ferguson, he has no plans after retirement and will remain in the city to see what God has to offer him. According to Ferguson, his family had endured "a lot" during his tenure as chief and thanked them for their support. Ferguson was sworn in as superintendent in January 2019 after serving as the Commander of the Educational and Training Division. Rafael Goyeneche of the Metropolitan Crime Commission says Ferguson was a dedicated officer and police chief. BUT IT STARTS, AS I SAID LAST WEEK WITH COMMUNICATION. He gave this city his very best the safety and wellbeing of each and every resident and visitor was always his top priority," said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. And thats what this is all about.". In terms of the way theyre behaving toward each other, I'm not sure how much worse it can get," said Chervenak. 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.Ferguson called the back and forth between him and the DAs office unwarranted, and was firm in his message of the challenges the NOPD faced in regard to violent crime. New Orleans NOPD Superintendent Shaun D. Ferguson, Sr. acknowledges the L.B. We must ensure that the next chief commits to upholding constitutional policing and transforming the department. SUPERINTENDENT SEAN FERGUSON WANTS TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. I just hope he stays prayed up and does the right thing, she said. 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. NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Adamant that he was not pressured to leave his post as the NOPD's superintendent, a solemn and sometimes emotional Shaun Ferguson on Wednesday (Dec. 7) said his decision to retire after 24 years on the city's police force was his and his alone. His predecessor, Michael Harrison, received the same treatment when he left the NOPD to lead Baltimore's police department. Richard Pennington, the only NOPD chief since 1980 who didnt rise through local law enforcement ranks, served eight years under former Mayor Marc Morial beginning in 1994, the city's high-water mark for deadly violence. That is who I am. (booking photo via Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office). He was fair across the board.. "The City of . 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. 2021. What I can take credit for is taking individuals and bringing the best out of individuals and making them a team, he said. "It is vital that the community continue its support for this department. Ferguson's career includes numerous periods in the NOPD Second District, which spans from Napoleon Avenue upriver through the Audubon, university, Carrollton, [] 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. 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. The George Floyd social justice movement, Goyeneche said. Yet, you faced all of these seemingly insurmountable hurdles with dignity, grace and determination. While this is a family matter, Chief Ferguson wants to be clear that the NOPD will conduct a proper and complete investigation just like we do in every case, Cunningham said. 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. Please include the headline. 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. Including victim assistance, accident and incident reports, and how to file complaints or commendations. Cantrell told him she hated to see the neighborhood blighted. 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. 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. MY FAMILY HAS ENDURED A LOT. 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. NOPD Supt. Hem; Artiklar; Nummer. If one needed to go check on a house, we all went together, he said. Carjackings are up 103% and armed robberies are up 29%.. 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. The right process will find the best people. Growing library of dashboards tracking City dat and initiatives. He was one of our young leaders that we identified when I was superintendent and Im very proud of him, said Serpas. COVID hit. Afterward, Ferguson began his long rise through the departments ranks. Son of new NOPD chief arrested after domestic dispute, Laura McKnight, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. 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 . The situation was perfect to accomplish that goal, said Donovan Livaccari, attorney for the local Fraternal Order of Police, noting the pressure from the council. Harrison served 4 years. 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. 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, 46, first applied to join the NOPD in 1995, when the city had just seen its highest-ever murder count. Woodfork is a graduate of St. Marys Academy High School. Ferguson saw the department through COVID-19 and two years of the highest violent crime rates since Hurricane Katrina. NOPD superintendent Shaun Ferguson is lashing out at a cop who quit mid-shift last Friday, but that cop isn't alone. New NOPD chief sworn in following emotional send-off for former superintendent, Jonette Williams could be named the next NOPD superintendent. No additional details were immediately available about the dispute.". Ferguson said he first met Cantrell as a lieutenant in the 2nd District, where he served from 2012 to 2014. 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. Follow Matt Sledge on Twitter, @mgsledge. NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Superintendent Shaun Ferguson, flanked by city councilmembers and assorted . I think Shauns biggest challenge was he continued to be asked to do great things with less and less people each day, and little political support to make recruiting and retention the governments No. That is why any chosen candidate for chief must adhere to the City Council confirmation process widely endorsed by the voters of the City. shaun ferguson is replacing former chief michael harrison, who resigned, taking a new post in baltimore the nopd says the arrest stems from a domestic dispute th happened over the weekend. Former NOPD Superintendent Ronal Serpas says Ferguson had to play a game with very little support.. Jonette Williams spent most of her career working in the Public Affairs Division and the Fourth District. Shaun Ferguson says the average response time currently sits at 11 minutes, but with the help of civilians, the department can reduce that time. Thats one reason Cantrell should open up the search for Ferguson's replacement, he said. In 2016, she was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, initially assigned to the 7th District before moving to the 2nd District under the supervision of then Commander Shaun Ferguson. Still, for the remainder of the month the mayor has the authority to pick her own police chief without running the choice by the council. We need to support each other as we continue the work of making this city safe for its residents and visitors. New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson will take his final walk Thursday as acting police chief for the NOPD. You have permission to edit this article. Today, only one officer involved in the case is in prison the one who burned the car with Glovers body inside. This is New Orleans. There was a problem saving your notification. "To the men and women of this city, I love you. 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. Since then, she has been assigned to five of the NOPDs eight districts at the rank of Patrol Officer, Sergeant, and Lieutenant. A white rookie cop shot a man named Henry Glover who was trying to pick up goods pilfered from a strip mall. 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. NOLA 311is New Orleans primary source of local government information and non-emergency services. However, Superintendent Harrison, the man Ferguson describes as his mentor, ordered him to serve a five-day suspension. He has held the position for the past six months. 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. His tibia had to be rebuilt with a bone graft before he could walk again. Scharf said Ferguson was mentored by current NOPD Deputy Chief of Operations Paul Noel, an advocate of data-and technology-driven policing whos seen as No. Before this, he commanded NOPDs Fourth District from 2014 to 2016. WE BEGIN AT FIVE WITH THE FINAL MESSAGE FROM NOPD SUPERINTENDENT SEAN FERGUSON. First Emanuel's pastor, the Rev. 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. What began as a simple salary data search on officers in the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) has led to a months-long undercover sting operation and has recently ended with cop suspensions, a . Tell my wife that I love her, Barnes said. 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. Ferguson was very vocal in the past year regarding crime and how the Orleans Parish district attorney handled convictions. 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. Ferguson's final walk and salute will be held outside of Gallier Hall on Thursday, Dec. 22 at 11 a.m. Sources say Jonette Williams could be named the next NOPD superintendent. Thomassie eventually pleaded guilty to forcible rape and sexual molestation of a juvenile under age 13. He recalls her opening the conversation simply: Are you ready to be my chief?. Algiers was a tough place to be a cop as Ferguson was moving up the ranks, and developing relationships with the community while remaining tough on criminals was a daily battle. Emily Lane, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, named the citys new police superintendent, Who is Jonette Williams? "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. Moving forward, there should be a national search for a new police chief to find the best candidate to lead the NOPD. Cantrells warm impression of Ferguson remained with her when, early last month, Harrison said he was stepping down to take over Baltimores troubled department. Shaun Ferguson will retire effective 11:00 a.m. on Dec. 22, and we say Mayor Cantrell should announce his replacement . 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.Ferguson was chosen to lead the department after former Superintendent Michael Harrison announced he was leaving New Orleans to become the police commissioner in Baltimore. "Since joining the NOPD in 1998, Chief Ferguson has served with honor, distinction and integrity. 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. 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. She served 12 years as a Detective and later as a Sergeant in the department's Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit.