Civil Service: Cantrell Interfered in Police Promotions

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has been accused by the city's Civil Service Commission of improperly interfering in the New Orleans Police Department's promotion process to favor Lt. Sabrina Richardson, who had been demoted due to disciplinary issues. The Commission found that Cantrell directed Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick to pause promotions, citing a bias in the scoring process. Despite Cantrell's alleged interference, Kirkpatrick eventually involved federal monitors, and promotions proceeded for other candidates. Cantrell invoked her Fifth Amendment rights and refused to testify, which could potentially lead to her removal from office. The city disagrees with the Commission's findings and maintains that Cantrell's actions were not improper. This is the fourth investigation to find wrongdoing in Cantrell's handling of the promotion process.