Ferguson tapped to lead NOPD

22nd January 2019   ·   0 Comments

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell wasted no time in identifying and naming a veteran officer from the NOPD to replace outgoing Supt. Michael Harrison. The new police chief, Shaun Ferguson, is a 21-year NOPD veteran and a graduate of O. Perry Walker High School and Southern University at New Orleans.

Ferguson received high praise from both the mayor and Supt. Harrison, who saw something in the veteran that prompted him to encourage Ferguson to enter a leadership program that ultimately prepared him to step in and fill Harrison’s shoes.

Ferguson said he is committed to continuing to meet terms of a consent decree with the federal Justice Department. That agreement was reached in 2012 after decades of scandals involving corruption or questionable use of force.

“To our citizens: I’ve served you for 21 years, and I’m looking forward to serving you even longer,” said Ferguson, 46.

Ferguson thanked Harrison for his leadership and mentoring, noting he was the first commander Harrison sent to the Police Executive Research Forum’s senior management institute in Boston after Harrison was appointed superintendent.

“He has prepared himself,” Harrison said.

“I understand how consequential this decision is, and it’s probably the most important decision I will make as mayor of the City of New Orleans, particularly at this time,” said Mayor Cantrell.

“Commander Ferguson is my choice to be the next Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department. Commander Ferguson has the criteria that I’ve been looking for. I call it the three F’s: fair, firm and friendly. (He’s) known by our community with over 21 years of experience. We would not have made the strides we’ve made with the consent decree without Commander Ferguson modernizing the police department and bringing it into the 21st century.”

Ferguson is currently serving as the commander of the Educational and Training Division, which oversees the police academy. Prior to overseeing the academy and training the next generation of NOPD officers, Ferguson served for about three years as commander of the department’s 2nd District before moving to the academy in the summer of 2018. Before his assignment in the 2nd District, Ferguson commanded NOPD’s 4th District.

“This is indeed an honor and privilege to be selected as the new Chief of the New Orleans Police Department,” said Commander Ferguson. “I have had many assignments in my 21 years with the NOPD to prepare me for this moment, and I would like to thank Mayor Cantrell for entrusting me with this opportunity. Together, we will work to build upon the successes the brave men and women of this department have been able to achieve as we strive to be the best police department in America.”

The New Orleans native was raised in the Lower Ninth Ward and moved to Algiers during his junior high school years. A graduate of O. Perry Walker High School in 1990, Ferguson joined the New Orleans Police Department in December 1998. During his tenure, he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Southern University of New Orleans, where he also received a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

Ferguson said he wanted to tell current and future recruits that his promotion shows the department is a place of growth and opportunity.

“Join our team,” he said. “Keep your dreams ahead of you; keep striving, keep pushing, and you can make things happen.”

Ferguson was sworn in Friday, Jan. 18, in a public ceremony held at Gallier Hall.

This article originally published in the January 21, 2019 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.