"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. 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 . NOPD superintendent Shaun Ferguson is lashing out at a cop who quit mid-shift last Friday, but that cop isn't alone. After 24 years of dedicated public service to the City of New Orleans, Superintendent Shaun Ferguson will retire at the end of this year. Follow Matt Sledge on Twitter, @mgsledge. According to Ferguson, his family had endured "a lot" during his tenure as chief and thanked them for their support. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Cantrell will give Ferguson a traditional sendoff with a "Final Walk" scheduled for Dec. 22 outside Gallier Hall on St. Charles Avenue. His predecessor, Michael Harrison, received the same treatment when he left the NOPD to lead Baltimore's police department. Fergusons Algiers home emerged unscathed, aside from losing power. The citys new chief took his oath with fanfare in front of Gallier Hall on Jan. 18. Williams would make history as the first woman to ever become superintendent of the department. 9:00am5:00pm, Non-Emergency Calls/To File Report(504) 821-2222 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. Ferguson was very vocal in the past year regarding crime and how the Orleans Parish district attorney handled convictions. He was promoted to that job in March 2014, near the end of former superintendent Ronal Serpas tenure. Published: Dec. 7, 2022 at 9:52 AM PST. SUPERINTENDENT SEAN FERGUSON WANTS TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. He also commanded the NOPDs Fourth District from 2014-2016. Ferguson graduated from O. Perry Walker High School in Algiers in 1990, according to his personal history record. We need to support each other as we continue the work of making the city safe for its residents and visitors. View online City tools and other City websites. I had a little knowledge of some of the players out there, Ferguson said. bloomingdale football tickets; party wear saree with stitched blouse Shaun Ferguson, who served as an NOPD commander, was sworn in Friday as NOPDs new superintendent. His neighborhood bona fides helped soothe tensions in the years following Katrina. Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams criticized inconsistencies in NOPDs data and the FBIs data for arrests and solve rates. I will still be your neighbor, and I will always be a part of the city that I love so much.. Afterward, Ferguson began his long rise through the departments ranks. And there was one discrepancy in his resumas submitted for consideration for the chiefs job. Ferguson rose up as a beat cop in the 4th District, patrolling the Fischer public housing development in Algiers. Hem; Artiklar; Nummer. Sources tell FOX 8 recently promoted Deputy Superintendent Jonette Williams is the frontrunner to be tapped by Cantrell to replace Ferguson. Williams would make history by becoming the first female Superintendent in NOPD history. Ferguson was tasked, in part, with shepherding the department into full compliance with a police reform agreement overseen by a federal judge, and clearing the NOPD from federal oversight. (Photo by Brett Duke, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate). NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Amid building pressure, New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson will retire from his position effective Dec. 22, according to city officials. Ferguson said that when he finally sat down in his office at the 4th District, he looked back on a profession that had started as just a job but became a calling. The DA and Ferguson eventually put their differences aside and formed a partnership where the two launched a Serial Crimes Prevention and Prosecution Initiative. Shaun Ferguson tells WGNO that she had been a nine-year veteran of the NOPD and called the event horrible news. Shaun Ferguson will retire effective 11:00 a.m. on Dec. 22, and we say Mayor Cantrell should announce his replacement . Deputy superintendent eyed to become NOPD's first female superintendent. If Ferguson had been a regular patrolman, he would have been suspended for a couple of days. Ferguson said he broached his planned exit with Cantrell before Thanksgiving. THIS IS MY DECISION. Dec 7, 2022 - 11:45 am. Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams criticized inconsistencies in NOPDs data and the FBIs data for arrests and solve rates. In the late 1990s, the neighborhood still had a lingering distrust of the police from the notorious Algiers 7 police shootings that left four black people dead as officers hunted for the killer of a white cop in 1980. Ferguson was named 4th District officer of the year in 2000, 2002 and 2003, according to his resum. We would go and take our showers there, he said. Rafael Goyeneche of the Metropolitan Crime Commission says Ferguson was a dedicated officer and police chief. Ferguson said Monday he also received a masters decree from SUNO. Cantrell's statement about Ferguson's retirement can be read below: "The City of New Orleans will soon bid farewell to a great leader, a great partner and a great friend. 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. His tibia had to be rebuilt with a bone graft before he could walk again. Join me live on @FOX8NOLA at 5PM and 9PM for analysis. We as commanding officers should be held to a higher standard, Ferguson said. It was a department in shambles, sullied by terrible crime statistics and violence coming from inside the department itself. The son of the newly sworn-in head of the New Orleans Police Department was arrested Tuesday (Jan. 22) in connection with a domestic dispute that occurred over the weekend, according to NOPD spokesman Andy Cunningham. REPORTING LIVE OUTSIDE POLICE HEADQUARTERS, IM MORGAN LENTES WD. Ferguson saw the department through COVID-19 and two years of the highest violent crime rates since Hurricane Katrina. His application remained on file, however. First Emanuel's pastor, the Rev. No matter how much money we throw at these officers, were not listening to them, said Morrell. "Copyright 2023 The City of New Orleans"|Report Fraud|Site Policies & Information. In the roughly five years between graduating high school and joining the force, he worked as a private security guard and as a maintenance assistant for the Army Corps of Engineers. Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office also released Fergusons booking photo Wednesday morning, and it has been added to the story. You have permission to edit this article. He also navigated the department at a time when the police commission says there is a critical shortage of officers. Moving forward, there should be a national search for a new police chief to find the best candidate to lead the NOPD. It was in the latter job that he weathered Hurricane Katrina. The George Floyd social justice movement, Goyeneche said. HE SAYS DESPITE RECENT CRITICISM AND POLITICAL PRESSURE, HE CHOSE TO RETIRE AT THE END OF THE YEAR. Unrated. "Chief Ferguson has been dealing with an issue that no police chief has had to deal with in 100 years," Goyeneche said. NOLA 311is New Orleans primary source of local government information and non-emergency services. New Orleans, LA 70119, Phone(504) 658-5757 Ferguson heaped praise on the officers who remain while urging greater public support for them. 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. NOPD Supt. The storm brought out the best and worst in the NOPD. Keen to name a successor quickly, Cantrell summoned Ferguson to her office on Jan. 9, two days after Harrison informed her he was leaving. And sometimes you know a decision has to be made, a very important and necessary decision.". I am walking out on my own accord, he said. NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Superintendent Shaun Ferguson, flanked by city councilmembers and assorted . 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. She was then assigned as a Lieutenant in the 1st District before being promoted to the rank of Captain in November of 2021. Ferguson said his commitment to accountability does not conflict with caring for officers, even ones who have fallen under criminal suspicion. Officers issued a warrant for Shane Ferguson, who turned himself in within days. 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 . Shane Ferguson, son of NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson, turned himself in to authorities Tuesday evening, Cunningham said in a statement late Tuesday. Its not because Shaun Ferguson didnt know what to do. Various boards, commissions and districts defined in both City and State law. Well change as we need to change, he said. He said the timing was unrelated to the charter amendment, and instead cited some challenges within my family and challenges with myself health-wise. 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. As a parent of a teenage son and lifelong resident of the City of New Orleans, Woodfork uniquely understands the challenges that the department and the city face as well as the success that can be achieved together. He has to go through his due process, just as any other individual whos accused of any criminal wrongdoing.. So he has been the chief during the most troubling and trying times in the history of the city of New Orleans, Goyeneche said. The clientele back then was rougher, recalled Barnes, a friend of Ferguson's back then, and now an NOPD public information officer. As they walked side by side during a neighborhood "walk against crime" one day, he noticed her picking up trash. It is vital that the community continue its support for this department, the statement continues. I have been convinced since the day Shaun was appointed superintendent that he was going to do a great job. Including victim assistance, accident and incident reports, and how to file complaints or commendations. 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. 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. Tell my wife that I love her, Barnes said. I also want to thank the men & women of the NOPD for their continued hard work and service its citizens. 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. Reform-minded Superintendent Richard Pennington, hired in 1994, had managed to put the department on a new course. Since then, she has been assigned to five of the NOPDs eight districts at the rank of Patrol Officer, Sergeant, and Lieutenant. Thats one reason Cantrell should open up the search for Ferguson's replacement, he said. Son of new NOPD chief arrested after domestic dispute, Laura McKnight, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. We must ensure that the next chief commits to upholding constitutional policing and transforming the department. 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. I WAS NOT FORCED. 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. Whatever the city asks of me, he told her. Across the board, people respect him, Lundy said. New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson talks to reporters outside the federal courthouse in New Orleans on Aug. 17, 2022. Prior to training the next generation of NOPD officers, he served as Commander of the Second District from 2016 to 2018. 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. Barnes was hit, and blood poured out of him as his fellow officers tried to help. 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.. 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. 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. Williams would become the first woman to serve as New Orleans top law enforcement officer and the first Black female NOPD superintendent. 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, who turned 50 this year, said he didn't change his mind. Saatva Mattress Review: Our Pick for the Best Overall Bed of 2023, We Found 12 Cute Planters and Flower Pots That Cost Less Than $25, Here's Where to Watch and Stream Marvel's 'Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' Online. And thats what this is all about.". He has held the position for the past six months. It was during this period, on March 28, 2001, that Barnes was shot in the Fischer complex. New Orleans, LA 70119, Hours of Operation Before this, he commanded NOPDs Fourth District from 2014 to 2016. Call #NOPD's Homicide Unit at 504-658-5300 or call @CrimestopperGNO at 504-822-1111." shaun ferguson nopd wife. How are you making out? Ferguson wrote. You cant ignore he just kept getting one left hook after another.. THERES A LEVEL RESPECT THAT WAS GIVEN BACK TO THOSE OFFICERS THAT ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND THAT WASNT THERE BEFORE. He was a 13-year veteran of the NOPD. 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. To the men and women of the New Orleans Police Department, I love you," Ferguson said. After 24 years of dedicated public service to the City of New Orleans, Superintendent Shaun Ferguson will retire at the end of this year. 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. 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. shaun ferguson nopd wife. 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. 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. We have also seen more illegal guns being taken off our streets, with nearly 2,500 illegal guns seized just this year. She received both a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Political Science and a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Law Enforcement from Southern University at New Orleans. Superintendent Woodfork is a 32-year veteran of the department, joining the NOPD on Jan. 27, 1991. His community-focused approach has helped mend the relationships between our officers and our residents. Commercial audiobook. I appreciated the Chiefs recent willingness to listen to the community and the Councils reform recommendations to help NOPD meet the demands of today. Ferguson also asked the community to continue to uplift the police officers of the city, praising the dedication of his officers on the force. A New Orleans Advocate analysis of the citys 911 database suggests that crime actually rose by 25 percent during Fergusons tenure there, outstripping the citywide 11 percent increase. Thank you New Orleans! FILE - New Orleans Police Supt. Yet, you faced all of these seemingly insurmountable hurdles with dignity, grace and determination. HE WAS APPOINTED THE CITYS TOP COP IN EARLY 2019 WITH NO CLUE THE CHALLENGES TO COME. "Everything I have been through, this department has been through, has been by his (God's) order and I will continue to follow that.". Ferguson's career includes numerous periods in the NOPD Second District, which spans from Napoleon Avenue upriver through the Audubon, university, Carrollton, [] There werent many favorites. 1 priority, said Ronal Serpas, a former NOPD superintendent who teaches at Loyola University. He commanded the 4th District, the 2nd District and the training academy over the last six years. Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department The 2nd District comprises the Carrollton, Freret, Leonidas neighborhoods and Uptown, all within Cantrells former council district. Ferguson quickly received a reminder that being the top cop comes with greater scrutiny. "To the men and women of this city, I love you. new road legal quad; bungou stray dogs chuuya x reader; Related articles; cookie clicker unblocked the advanced method; 1999 ford f350 crew cab headliner NOTE: This story was updated Wednesday morning with additional information from court records. ", "It is quite possible that this person already exists within NOPD," he said, "but if so, they need to be selected via a process that engenders the most NOPD and community support.". In the dark, but we got warm fresh water.. 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. He is also a member of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. In a lengthy interview detailing his career, Ferguson said he was accepted into the police academy, but after talking with his parents, he backed out. Updated: Jan 19, 2023 / 03:30 PM CST. SuperintendentWoodfork is a 32-year veteran of the department, joining the NOPD on Jan. 27, 1991. By Chris Miller. By Ken Daley. 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 recalls her opening the conversation simply: Are you ready to be my chief?. Ferguson was sworn in as superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department on Jan. 18, 2019. 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. "It is vital that the community continue its support for this department. He will be sworn in Friday. According to Ferguson, his family had endured "a lot" during his tenure as chief and thanked them for their support. We have also seen more illegal guns being taken off our streets, with nearly 2,500 illegal guns seized just this year. His . Ferguson later explained that he had been drinking the night before at an Easter celebration. She grew up understanding the importance of law and order and rose through the ranks with grit, tenacity, endurance, strong determination, and steadfast focus. "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. Shaun Ferguson addresses the recent uptick in crime during a news conference on Jan. 19, 2022, in New Orleans. Since joining the NOPD in 1998, Chief Ferguson has served with honor, distinction and integrity. Ferguson saw the department through COVID-19 and two years of the highest violent crime rates since Hurricane Katrina.He also navigated the department at a time when the police commission says there is a critical shortage of officers. 2 in rank at the department. Ferguson served with the department for 23 years, with three of those years in the top position of the department. In a statement, Ferguson . I have not stopped talking to Chief Harrison since he left. On Monday morning, NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson and Deputy Chief Superintendent John Thomas met for a press conference to discuss the incredibly violent weekend in the city. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune). Published: 2:34 PM CST December 6, 2022. 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. AND I THINK THAT IS MY GRADE A COP. See a spelling or grammar error in our story? 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 was left with gunshot wounds to his right lung and left leg. Harrison served 4 years. You have permission to edit this article. 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. NOPD Supt. The cop said he thought Glover had a gun. A little extra on my side where I could get those cases solved.. With the department now in his hands, Ferguson suggested he would like to hold onto proven strategies while making tweaks where needed. Ferguson emerged from the aftermath of Katrina with no known blotches on his record. 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.". 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. Who is Shaun Ferguson, NOPDs next police chief? He liked the idea of putting the pieces of the puzzle together on complicated investigations. Updated: 2:59 PM CST December 6, 2022. 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. You had some high tension between the community and the Police Department, he said. Ferguson was sworn in as . NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune reporters Heather Nolan and Carlie Kollath Wells contributed to this story.