Your March 20, 2001, commentary, “Signs of Slippage” at the NOPD was completely without merit. Disappointing is the fact that Gambit Weekly failed to seek accurate information from an official source before their commentary was published. The NOPD is far from slipping out of control.
Superintendent Richard Pennington has instituted many reforms that have brought the department national attention such as strict hiring standards for recruits which includes a thorough background investigation, as well as a psychological evaluation conducted by the LSU Psychiatric Unit.
Today, the Public Integrity Division (PID) continues to partner with the FBI for resources to ensure the NOPD does not regress. PID has a three-pronged approach for maintaining the public’s confidence: conducting aggressive criminal and administrative investigations, using undercover personnel to detect wrongdoing, and staging integrity checks. Additionally, PID utilizes a Professional Performance Enhancement Program (PPEP), which has expanded to include every commissioned member.
This early warning system is an integral component used to address integrity issues. When an officer receives a third complaint, a red “flag” appears in the NOPD’s computer system. Those officers who have been “flagged” must repeat the course, joining their colleagues in the 40-hour sensitivity training session. The full-week course teaches verbal judo, conflict resolution training and complaint avoidance, among other subjects. During the week, every officer meets one-on-one with the department psychologist. Together, they create strategies, personalized to the officer, which can be used to manage anger, tension and other stressors.
The officers attending PPEP for disciplinary reasons complete their week knowing the behavior expected of them and are closely monitored for the next six months. The follow-up training and monitoring has resulted in a significant decline in officer infractions. In 2000, there were 247 abuse-type complaints filed, and, since the inception of the PPEP, this represented a 26 percent reduction from 1998.
What Gambit failed to tell the public, since February 2000, over 20 different police departments have either come to New Orleans or made requests for information on the internal strategies of PID. These departments range from Atlanta to Las Vegas, or the Victoria Police Department in Australia to the Los Angeles Police Department. The NOPD has become a model for reform for not only the nation, but also the world.
In April 2001, Superintendent Pennington will launch a cable television talk show, Partnering for a Safer Community, and will focus on issues of public concern, particularly the process of internal investigations. PID’s telephone number will continuously be aired on a regular basis, as well as its toll-free number and instructions of how citizens can file complaints through the Internet.
Further, each of the eight district police stations has “Complaint Procedure Brochures” prominently displayed for citizens to just walk into the station to obtain instructions on filing complaints against officers. In addition, officers are instructed to direct citizens to PID if there is a desire to file a complaint against a member.
Finally, the NOPD continues to have zero tolerance for corruption and Superintendent Pennington’s record speaks for itself. Since 1995, there were 97 dismissals, 607 suspensions, 154 resignations while under investigation and 153 arrested or issued summons. Gambit did not ask for these numbers? When we began reform of the NOPD, we began with a partnership, which includes businesses, citizens, universities, community and neighborhood watch groups, and the media.
Today, the NOPD is considered one of America’s progressive law enforcement agencies with the appropriate “checks and balances” institutionalized to address issues of public concern.
Mayor Marc H. Morial
Superintendent Richard J. Pennington

Editor’s note: The commentary was based on information from Mayor Morial and Superintendent Pennington’s post-Mardi Gras press conference.

“Bouquets” given to Nakeisha Brown and Avery Thomas in recognition of their winning essays in the “Do the Write Thing” contest (“Bouquets & Brickbats,” Feb. 13).
As part of the National Campaign to Stop Violence program, this contest was introduced to New Orleans by Judge Ernestine Gray of the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court. A coalition of educators, public officials, community activists, and business leaders help identify and reward inner-city students who strive to overcome violent adversity in their lives.
Listening to the student’s amazing stories of survival reminds me that experience is a hard teacher because it gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.
Ivan L.R. Lemelle
U.S. District Court Judge