NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson will retire at the end of the month, according to a press release from the mayor’s office on Tuesday.
“After 24 years of dedicated public service to the City of New Orleans, Superintendent Shaun Ferguson will retire at the end of this year. He gave this city his very best – the safety and well-being of each and every resident and visitor was always his top priority," said Mayor LaToya Cantrell in a statement.
Ferguson, who was tapped to lead the department in 2019 after more than two decades on the force, faced several key challenges as police chief. Like many big cities, New Orleans has experienced sharp increases in violent crime – notably homicides and carjackings – during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The police department, which has been under a federal consent decree since 2012, has also struggled hiring and retaining officers. During Ferguson’s tenure, NOPD staffing issues have resulted in slower response times to crime and problems with holding Carnival parades.
According to NOLA.com, Ferguson said in an emailed statement that it was "time to take a step back and place more priority on my family and my own well-being.”
The Cantrell administration did not announce a successor for Ferguson on Tuesday. Under a new amendment to the city charter that was approved by voters in November, the mayor’s department heads – including police superintendent – must be approved by the council. But the law doesn’t kick in until Jan.1.
