>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THE HOT SEAT.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST, SHAUN FERGUSON, HIS FIRST SIT DOWN IN-DEPTH ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW.
FIRST OFF, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT CRIME NUMBERS.
LET’S GET TO A QUESTION ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO YOU PERSONALLY YOUR FIRST WEEK ON THE JOB.
YOUR SON WAS ARRESTED ON A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGE.
HE SURRENDERED TO POLICE.
THAT WAS FIVE DAYS INTO YOUR ADMINISTRATION.
HOW HARD WAS THAT FOR YOU TO DEAL WITH?
>> VERY HARD, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS HIS FIRST ARREST EVER.
IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR OUR FAMILY TO DEAL WITH.
HE HAS TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANY ACTIONS HE’S BEEN ACCUSED OF.
THAT’S WHEN HE TURNED HIMSELF IN, TO SEPARATE HIMSELF FROM ME, HOPEFULLY TO PROTECT ME FROM THIS BECAUSE HE KNEW IT WAS SOMETHING HE WAS INVOLVED IN AND IN NOT WANT TO BRING ME INTO
THIS ISSUE WITH THEM.
>> TWO QUESTIONS HERE, WHERE DID THINGS STAND ON THAT CASE, AND HOW SERIOUSLY DOES YOUR ADMINISTRATION TAKE ALLEGATIONS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE TAKE ALL ALLEGATION SERIOUS.
WITH HIM, HE IS TO HAVE HIS DUE PROCESS JUST AS ANY OTHER CITIZEN WOULD HAVE DUE PROCESS WHEN ACCUSED OF CRIMINAL WRONGDOING.
STATUS OF HIS CASE, HE HAS TO GO TO COURT.
HIS OWN PERSONAL MATTER, BECAUSE HE’S A GROWN MAN AND A BROTHER NOT CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT HIS PERSONAL MATTER.
>> ONE MORE QUESTION BEFORE WE GET TO THE NUMBERS.
THE OVERARCHING, GRAND VISION YOU HAVE FOR THE NOPD.
IN 2016, YOU WERE SUSPENDED FOR FIVE DAYS AFTER THE DEPARTMENT SUSTAINED AN ALLEGATION AGAINST YOU FOR WHAT IS CALLED USE OF ALCOHOL AND/OR DRUGS ON DUTY.
WHAT IS THAT ABOUT?
>> SO, ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY, I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT TO WORK THAT MORNING.
THIS WAS THE DAY AFTER A HOLIDAY WITH THE FAMILY.
THIS WAS NOT A THING THAT OCCURRED, TAKING ANY INTAKE OF ALCOHOL DURING MY TOUR OF DUTY.
I GOT UP, WENT TO WORK, FEELING I WAS FINE.
I STILL FEEL I WAS FINE.
BUT OUR POLICY IS ZERO SUBSTANCE IN YOUR SYSTEM.
AS A RESULT, I DO NOT VIOLATE THE POLICY, WHICH IS .04.
I DID NOT VIOLATE .08, WHICH IS A STATE DWI.
BUT ANYTHING OVER ZERO, CONSEQUENCES ARE YOU VIOLATED THAT POLICY.
AS SUCH, AT THAT TIME, THE POLICY WAS A TWO OR THREE DAY PENALTY.
BUT BEING AS A COMMANDER, I WAS HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD.
I TOOK IT, DID NOT APPEAL, AND MOVED ON.
>> DID THAT HAPPEN WITH THE MAYOR?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SHE VETTED ME.
SHE ASKED WHAT WAS GOING ON.
I TOOK FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT.
I WANT TO WORK THINKING I WAS FINE.
CAN’T TELL I DIDN’T HAVE ANY ILL FEELING GOING TO WORK.
>> IS THAT SOMETHING YOU’LL FEEL -- TAKE SERIOUSLY GOING FORWARD, WHEN IT COMES TO OTHER OFFICERS IN YOUR DEPARTMENT THAT ARE IN A SIMILAR SITUATION?
>> ACCOUNTABILITY.
I SAID IT FROM DAY ONE.
ACCOUNTABILITY AT MY LEVEL, AS WELL AS EVERY LEVEL WITHIN THE NEW ORLEANS LEASED APARTMENT, ABSOLUTELY -- POLICE DEPARTMENT, ABSOLUTELY.
>> CRIME IN THE CITY, WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE GOAL?
WHAT DO ONE RESIDENCE TO KNOW YOUR PRIORITY IS?
>> MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS FINALLY CRIMES.
WE’VE HAD A SUCCESSFUL 2018, AND ENDING 2018 WITH 146 MURDERS AND ENTERING 2019, FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY, WE JUST ENDED JANUARY WITH EIGHT MURDERS, GOING AGAINST 19 LAST YEAR.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE DOING WELL.
WE WANT TO KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING.
WE WANT TO REDUCE IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
>> YOU’RE A LONGTIME POLICE OFFICER.
TALK IS ONE THING, ACTION IS ANOTHER.
HOW DO YOU PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING VIOLENT CRIME DOWN?
>> KEEPING YOUR PEDAL TO THE METAL.
YOU HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND ENGAGE, NOT JUST ENGAGE THE CRIMINALS.
YOU HAVE TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.
IN EARNING THEIR TRUST, YOU RECEIVE A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP IDENTIFY THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO CHOOSE TO GO THE WRONG WAY.
>> WHAT ABOUT YOUR COMMAND STAFF?
THE FORMER CHIEF IMPLEMENTED THE STRUCTURE WE NOW USE AT THE NOPD, WHICH IS COMMANDERS.
IT WAS CARRIED OVER BY MICHAEL HARRISON.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU INTENDED TO KEEP?
WHAT ABOUT YOUR CURRENT COMMAND STAFF?
>> ABSOLUTELY RIGHT NOW, WE WILL KEEP THE COMMAND STAFF, THAT POSITION GOING.
I THINK THAT IS BENEFICIAL, TO KEEP OUR FISH -- FOCUS ON THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLICE AS A TEAM EFFORT.
I AM DOING MY REASSESSMENT AS I’VE BEEN SAYING SINCE THE BEGINNING.
I CAME FROM THE POSITION OF COMMANDER.
I WAS NOT PRIVY TO ANYTHING FROM A SUPERINTENDENCY.
NOW THOSE QUESTIONS I MAY HAVE HAD, THINGS IN MY HAVE INQUIRED ABOUT, NOW I HAVE THE ANSWERS TO THOSE THINGS.
NOW I’M TAKING THE VIEW FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT’S SEAT AND DOING A FULL ASSESSMENT OF HOW I WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED FORWARD WITH MY COMMAND STAFF TEAM.
THAT MY EXECUTIVE TEAM WILL DEFINITELY STAY IN PLACE.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING THIS LIKE TO KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON.
THEY WANT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE KITCHEN, NOT JUST WHAT GOES ON OUTSIDE IN THE RESTAURANTS FOR THE CUSTOMERS.
WHAT INFLUENCE DOES THE MAYOR, DO POLITICIANS HAVE, ON YOUR COMMAND STAFF, IF ANY?
OR HAVE YOU BEEN GIVEN COMPLETE AUTONOMY?
YOU’RE THE CHIEF, DO WHAT YOU WANT.
>> THE MAYOR HAS GIVEN ME FULL AUTONOMY TO MAKE THE DECISIONS I HAVE TO MAKE AND WHAT I THINK IS BEST.
SHE’S GIVEN IT ALL TO ME.
>> WHAT ABOUT SPECIALIZED UNITS, THE TIGER TEAM?
A LOT OF PEOPLE CREDIT THOSE UNITS FOR THE REASON WE HAVE THE LOWEST MURDER RATE IN ALMOST 50 YEARS IN 2018.
WILL YOU KEEP THOSE, AND HOW DO YOU ENHANCE THOSE?
OBVIOUSLY, CRIMINALS EVOLVE, SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST STRATEGIES.
WOULD YOU KEEP THESE SPECIALIZED UNITS AS THEY ARE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THEY ARE A BIG PART OF WHAT WE ARE DOING.
TAGGER, THEY ALL PLAY A SPECIAL PART, ALONG WITH OTHER SOURCES, SUCH AS OUR DISTRICT FORCES AND SPECIAL INVESTIGATION UNIT.
RIGHT NOW, THIS PARTICULAR UNITS I PLAN TO KEEP IN PLACE.
I WANT TO BUILD ON THE WATER AND GIVE SOME CRIMINAL ANALYSTS TO EMBED THOSE OFFICERS.
I THINK THAT WOULD AFFECT THE INTELLIGENCE SIDE AND WE WOULD GET MORE SUCCESS WITH VIOLENT CRIME ISSUES.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE HOMICIDE UNIT?
WE TALKED IN THE PAST, THERE’S BEEN TURMOIL IN THE UNIT, AT LEAST AT THE TOP.
THERE’S BEEN SHAKEUPS IN YEARS PAST ON TOP OF THE FACT THIS CELEBRATE IS SOMETHING PEOPLE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT.
WHAT IS YOUR GOAL FOR THE HOMICIDE UNIT?
>> THAT IS ANOTHER UNIT WOULD LIKE TO ADD, TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THEM AND GET THE INFORMATION.
WE HAVE ANALYSTS, BUT IT’S A DEPARTMENTWIDE GROUP.
BUT WE CAN PUT AN ANALYST THERE WITH THOSE DETECTIVES AND GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEED FIRSTHAND AS THEY PURSUE THEIR INVESTIGATION.
THAT WOULD BE REMARKABLE.
WITH REGARDS TO THEM GETTING ALONG, THEY’RE A GREAT TEAM.
I WAS A PART OF THE TEAM.
THEY WORK THERE BEHIND’S OFF.
IT’S A MATTER OF MAKING SURE WE KEEP THEM FOCUSED AND MAKE SURE THE WE GET EVERYTHING WE HAVE OUT OF.
MY BIGGEST THING TO PUSH TO THEM IS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH VICTIMS FAMILIES AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON.
>> YOU’RE IN CHARGE OF THE CITY.
THERE IS NO PART OF THE CITY MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY OTHER.
BUT IF YOU HAD TO BREAK IT DOWN AND SAY LOOK, I NEED TO FOCUS ON A CERTAIN DISTRICT.
WE HAVE THE FOURTH DISTRICT IN THE ALGIERS, THE SEVENTH IN NEW ORLEANS EAST, IS THERE A CERTAIN DISTRICT THAT CONCERNS YOU MORE THAN OTHERS RIGHT NOW WITH CERTAIN CRIMES?
>> I CAN’T SAY THERE’S A CERTAIN DISTRICT BECAUSE AGAIN, AS YOU SAID, I WOULD NEVER SAY ONE DISTRICT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE OTHER.
I’M NOT GOING TO SAY ONE IS MORE CONCERNING THAN THE OTHER BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE THEIR DIFFERENCES OF ISSUES, AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THEM ACCORDINGLY.
>> FINAL QUESTION HERE, HOW DO YOU WORK WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS?
STATE POLICE IS IN INTEGRAL PART OF WHAT YOU DO.
NEIGHBORS, ST. TAMMANY’S NOT FAR AWAY, ST. BERNARD HAS HAD ISSUES WITH PEOPLE STEALING CARS.
WE ALL KNOW THE OLD LINE THAT CRIMINALS DON’T KNOW GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES.
WHAT IS YOUR GOALS TO WORK WITH THE OTHER SHARES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS?
>> I RECEIVED A FEW PHONE CALLS FROM SOME ALREADY, SUCH AS THE STATE TROOPERS.
THEY WANT TO BUILD ON OUR RELATIONSHIP, THE PARTNERSHIP WE’VE HAD ALREADY.
IT IS A MATTER OF ME GETTING FACE-TO-FACE WITH EACH OF THEM AND REESTABLISHING OR LETTING THEM KNOW I’M BEHIND THE SAME COMMITMENT.
OUR OFFICERS AT THEIR LEVEL, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WELL TOGETHER AT THE STATE, LOCAL, AND FEDERAL LEVELS.
NOW IT’S UP TO ME TO REINFORCE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OF THESE JURISDICTIONS.
>> FINAL QUESTION, I TOLD YOU THAT WAS THE LAST ONE, BULIMIA ASK YOU. -- BUT LET ME ASK YOU.
YOU’RE A FAMILY MAN.
YOU’RE WEARING THE SUPERINTENDENT’S STAR.
IS THIS A DREAM YOUR LIVING?
IS YOUR FAMILY PROUD OF YOU?
>> MY FAMILY IS DEFINITELY PROUD OF ME.
AS I’VE SAID, I TELL PEOPLE HONESTLY, I DID NOT THINK I WOULD BE A POLICE OFFICER.
I LIKE TO MATH IN HIGH SCHOOL.
I LOOKED AT BEING AN ENGINEER.
BUT I REALIZED I WASN’T AS GREAT IN MATH AS I THOUGHT I WAS, SO I DID DO THE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BEYOND, MY FAMILY THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN MY BIGGEST SUPPORT.
MY YEARS IN ALGIERS, STILL LIVING IN ALGIERS, AS WELL AS BEING FROM THE LOWER 9TH WARD, AND MY WORKMANSHIP IN THE FRENCH QUARTER, AS WELL AS UPTOWN SECOND DISTRICT.
FROM EVERY PART OF THOSE DIFFERENT CAREER PATHS, I RECEIVED NOTHING BUT WORDS OF COMFORT AND EMBRACEMENT AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
I THINK THEM FOR THA