NEW ORLEANS—Delivering on a commitment to continue to strengthen supervision across the department and develop new leadership, NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison announced the promotions of 5 new sergeants and 3 new lieutenants on Friday, August 12, 2016. The new leadership will join supervisors in the field who directly oversee, manage and lead officers every day.
“We are committed to putting strong leadership in place for our officers that ensures close and effective supervision at every level of the department,” said NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison. “All of these new leaders will receive comprehensive training that will equip them with the tools and resources they need to be successful. I thank them for their service to the city of New Orleans and I am proud to be able to provide them with an opportunity to lead.”
The following officers will assume their new roles effective Sunday, August 14, 2016:
• Sergeant Avery Theard, who currently serves in the Traffic Division will be promoted to Lieutenant and become a supervisor in the Sixth District. Theard is an 18 -year veteran of the NOPD.
• Sergeant Arnold Williams, who currently serves in the Child Abuse Division, will be promoted to Lieutenant and become a supervisor in the Special Victims Section. Williams is a 27-year veteran of the NOPD.
• Sergeant Kevin Stamp Sr., who currently serves in the Public Integrity Bureau, will be promoted to Lieutenant and become a supervisor in the Seventh District. Stamp is a 23-year veteran of the NOPD.
• Officer Matthew Morrison who currently serves in the Third District, will be promoted to Sergeant and become a supervisor in the First District. Morrison is a 7-year veteran of the NOPD.
• Officer Candice Preston who currently serves in the Traffic Division, will be promoted to Sergeant and become a supervisor in the Sixth District. Preston is a 12-year veteran of the NOPD.
• Officer Michelle Bickham who currently serves in the Recruitment Division, will be promoted to Sergeant and become a supervisor in the First District. Bickham is a 13-year veteran of the NOPD.
• Officer Patrick Smith who currently serves in the Third District, will be promoted to Sergeant and become a supervisor in the Eighth District. Smith is a 19-year veteran of the NOPD.
• Officer Floyd Jackson who currently serves in the Fifth District, will be promoted to Sergeant and become a supervisor in the Sixth District. Jackson is a 19-year veteran of the NOPD.
All new sergeants will complete 80 hours of training at the NOPD Training Academy under a strong curriculum that includes, officer performance management and evaluation, de-escalating conflict, investigating use of force, evaluating written reports, vehicle pursuits/response to calls, supervisor report of accident, building community partnerships/community policing, body worn cameras and positive career development. The new sergeants will also receive an additional 40 hours of Public Integrity Bureau (PIB) Misconduct and Complaint Intake and Investigation Training.
All new lieutenants have already completed extensive supervisor training, including a two-day training on delegation of supervisory tasks and monitoring performance, calls for service and workload management, proactive patrol and crime fighting strategies and analysis of crime statistics and identification of crime patterns for targeting criminal investigation and report writing standards.
In addition, all of the new leadership have already completed the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) 120 hours Leadership in Police Organizations Training.
Chief Harrison has promoted 32 officers to the position of sergeant and 34 sergeants to the position of lieutenant, for a total of 66 promotions since becoming Superintendent in August 2014.