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. AT A NEWS CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY, HE SAID HIS FAMILY IS AGAIN AT THE HEART OF THIS DECISION. "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. IN FACT, HE SAYS ORLEANS MAYOR LATOYA CANTRELL ASKED HIM TO RECONSIDER. Shootings are up 87%. They had an open-door policy, very community focused, excellent community policing skills.". Cantrell elevated him from 2nd District commander to the NOPDs top post after Harrison left. So he has been the chief during the most troubling and trying times in the history of the city of New Orleans, Goyeneche said. Whether you are a local resident, visitor, or business, NOLA-311 will provide a prompt, courteous and professional customer service experience. View Crime Maps, UCR Stats, NOPD Calls for Service and more. 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. Ferguson was hired by NOPD in 1995, NOPD records show. WDSU REPORTER MORGAN LENTES AT NOPD HEADQUARTERS WITH WHAT THE OUTGOING SUPERINTENDENT HAD TO SAY. New Orleans police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson discusses decision to retire, IS WDSU NEWS AT FIVE. Warren Riley served five years as chief, and Eddie Compass served three. 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. 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. Shane Ferguson lives in Algiers and turned himself in at the 4th District police station in Algiers, according to municipal court records obtained by NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. They made a very powerful team in the 2nd District, Scharf said. MondayFriday It means the world not just to me personally or him but to the troops in this uniform as well as to our community to know that were still in the right direction, were still going forward.. Carjackings are up 103% and armed robberies are up 29%.. Ferguson said he paused and let out a deep breath before responding. SO HAS THE SUPERINTENDENT WHO JOINED THE NOPD ALMOST 25 YEARS AGO. Jonette Williams spent most of her career working in the Public Affairs Division and the Fourth District. She will now be tasked with appointing a replacement. The 2nd District also includes the mayors neighborhood of Broadmoor. Before this, he commanded NOPDs Fourth District from 2014 to 2016. Ferguson was hired by NOPD in 1995, NOPD records show. Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams criticized inconsistencies in NOPDs data and the FBIs data for arrests and solve rates. 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. NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson was hand-picked by Mayor LaToya Cantrell and had previously served as head of the training academy and commander of the second and fourth police districts in New . Livaccari noted that the NOPD is a relatively young police force. 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. NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune reporters Heather Nolan and Carlie Kollath Wells contributed to this story. 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 . Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Ferguson was named 4th District officer of the year in 2000, 2002 and 2003, according to his resum. The right process will find the best people. "To the men and women of this city, I love you. After 24 years of dedicated public service to the City of New Orleans, Superintendent Shaun Ferguson will retire at the end of this year. Afterward, Ferguson began his long rise through the departments ranks. Leave an email address and we'll do our best to respond! "I also want to thank the citizens of this great city for their kind words and support during my tenure. The best person for the New Orleans Police Department is within the New Orleans Police Department, he insisted. Son of new NOPD chief arrested after domestic dispute, Laura McKnight, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. She served 12 years as a Detective and later as a Sergeant in the departments Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit. THE NEW ORLEANS POLICE FROM DOING THEIR JOB. 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. 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. MORGANS HEY TRAVERS. Another cop drove a car with Glovers body inside it to the levee and set it on fire. Several council members expressed concern that Cantrell will skirt that new vetting process by quickly naming a new superintendent. SUPERINTENDENT SEAN FERGUSON WANTS TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. Shaun Ferguson tells WGNO that she had been a nine-year veteran of the NOPD and called the event horrible news. By Ken Daley. They stayed connected while Ferguson moved between posts. According to Ferguson, his family had endured "a lot" during his tenure as chief and thanked them for their support. 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. Ferguson and other officers rushed to the scene of the shooting. The New Orleans Superintendent of Police has resigned. Ferguson said his commitment to accountability does not conflict with caring for officers, even ones who have fallen under criminal suspicion. His community-focused approach has helped mend the relationships between our officers and our residents. Ferguson was very vocal in the past year regarding crime and how the Orleans Parish district attorney handled convictions. Also pushing for a national search was The Nola Coalition, a broad group of business and civic groups formed this year amid an ongoing surge in carjackings, shootings and murder. It was an overwhelming feeling, but Ill never forget it.. 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. 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. 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, Phone(504) 658-5757 Other questions that remain include whether Ferguson will be able to see the department through its federal consent decree and extend the recent drop in violent crime. He will be sworn in Friday. We need to support each other as we continue the work of making this city safe for its residents and visitors. 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. HomeNew Orleans Police Department Administration Superintendent of Police. I will still be your neighbor and I will always be a part of this city that I love so much. Ferguson previously served as Commander of the NOPDs Second District from 2016-2018. I WAS NOT FORCED. You cant ignore he just kept getting one left hook after another.. Landry-O.P. ITS A DECISION SAYS WAS HIS AND HIS ALONE. 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. 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. REPORTING LIVE OUTSIDE POLICE HEADQUARTERS, IM MORGAN LENTES WD. Who is Shaun Ferguson, NOPDs next police chief? Ferguson told McMain students at the rally that by spearheading the event and planning a march to City Hall, they demonstrated their leadership to the community. 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. From a nearly 50-year low in homicides in 2019, shootings and murders have surged across the city. Its unclear if Noel will remain in that role. City Council Vice President J.P. Morrell called for Fergusons resignation last week as the council worked to approve the citys $1.5 billion budget, of which, $25 million would go towards a police recruitment and retention incentive package. No more getting up trying to see whats going on., A day after her handpicked police chief announced his resignation, and following months of controversies over her use of official perks, Mayor. Shaun Ferguson addresses the recent uptick in crime during a news conference on Jan. 19, 2022, in New Orleans. 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. 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. Submit request online 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. Fergusons first assignment was in Algiers, the same neighborhood where he grew up. New Orleans NOPD Superintendent Shaun D. Ferguson, Sr. acknowledges the L.B. FILE - New Orleans Police Supt. In August 2015, during jury selection for veteran 4th District Officer Michael Thomassies trial on allegations of raping a 7-year-old girl, Thomassie received a pair of text messages from Ferguson. Ferguson faced difficult times during his tenure as superintendent. New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Woodfork is a 32-year veteran of the department, joining the NOPD on Jan. 27, 1991. After 24 years of dedicated public service to the City of New Orleans, Superintendent Shaun Ferguson will retire at the end of this year. Ferguson will retire at year's end. 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. That is why any chosen candidate for chief must adhere to the City Council confirmation process widely endorsed by the voters of the City. 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. As the New Orleans City Council approved the city budget for the upcoming year, including a package of incentives for recruiting and retaining New Orleans Police officer, councilmember at-large J.P. Morrell repeated his desire to see NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson replaced. "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. 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. 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. The appointment would be a historic move. Neither is guaranteed in a city that has seen progress in its police force evaporate before. In the dark, but we got warm fresh water.. 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 need to support each other as we continue the work of making this city safe for its residents and visitors. 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 have been convinced since the day Shaun was appointed superintendent that he was going to do a great job. You have permission to edit this article. They've been 100 percent, anything I needed, anything I wanted, Barnes said. "Copyright 2023 The City of New Orleans"|Report Fraud|Site Policies & Information. Shaun Ferguson will retire effective 11:00 a.m. on Dec. 22, and we say Mayor Cantrell should announce his replacement . He has held the position for the past six months. Dec 7, 2022 - 11:45 am. Before this, he commanded NOPDs Fourth District from 2014 to 2016. Civic leaders push for national search for new NOPD chief, Shaun Ferguson says the decision to retire was his alone, BY JOHN SIMERMAN AND MATT SLEDGE | Staff writers, Mayor LaToya Cantrell gives State of the City address: 'Tired of fightingready to build'. His neighborhood bona fides helped soothe tensions in the years following Katrina. 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. Type an address to get zoning, district, and service information for your location, 1300 Perdido St, New Orleans, LA 70112 Cantrells warm impression of Ferguson remained with her when, early last month, Harrison said he was stepping down to take over Baltimores troubled department. 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. In a statement, Ferguson . This is a crisis: New Orleans murder rate per capita pacing highest in U.S. Police say the suspected shooter is an unknown female. 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. Under NOPD policy, however, no officer can drive with any amount of alcohol in their blood. 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. 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. He liked the idea of putting the pieces of the puzzle together on complicated investigations. 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. Whatever the city asks of me, he told her. 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. Ferguson was sworn in as . "Everything I have been through, this department has been through, has been by his (God's) order and I will continue to follow that.". SINCE BEFORE THANKSGIVING. After 24 years of dedicated public service to the City of New Orleans, Superintendent Shaun Ferguson will retire at the end of this year. 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. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WDSU-TV. 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. 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. We were a close-knit unit, Ferguson said of his early days. 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. NOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHY HE ADDRESSED THAT EARLIER TODAY. Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office also released Fergusons booking photo Wednesday morning, and it has been added to the story. Harrison left with positive approval ratings and glowing reviews from local politicians. 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. WDSU FIRST BROKE THE NEWS YESTERDAY THAT THE TOP COP WOULD RETIRE BY THE END OF THE YEAR. 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. 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. His tibia had to be rebuilt with a bone graft before he could walk again. At the same time, I dont think anybody wanted Ferg to fail.. It was too perilous. In a statement, Ferguson thanked the mayor and the citizens of New Orleans. Shaun Ferguson named new NOPD chief by Mayor LaToya Cantrell. Ferguson later explained that he had been drinking the night before at an Easter celebration. 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..