Stoned Rats Invade New Orleans Police Department: City Proposes Costly Relocation Plan

Clear Facts

• Rats have reportedly infiltrated the New Orleans Police Department’s headquarters, breaking into the evidence room and consuming marijuana, as stated by Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick.
• The police department’s building is also plagued by a cockroach infestation, mold, lack of air conditioning, and malfunctioning elevators and bathrooms, further exacerbating the working conditions for the staff.
• City leaders have proposed a plan to lease a new building across the street from the Caesars Superdome for the next 10 years, which is expected to cost approximately $670,000 a year, in addition to an estimated $300,000 for the move.

The New Orleans Police Department’s headquarters, a building already in a state of disrepair, has been invaded by an unexpected foe: rats. These rodents have been breaking into the evidence room and, according to Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick, consuming the stored marijuana.

“The rats are eating our marijuana. They’re all high,” Kirkpatrick informed council members at a Criminal Justice Committee meeting.

However, the rats are not the only issue plaguing the police department’s headquarters. The building is also infested with cockroaches, mold, and is lacking in air conditioning. Furthermore, the elevators and bathrooms are not functioning properly, adding to the list of problems the staff has to endure.

“When we say we value our employees, you can’t say that and at the same time allow people to work in conditions that are not acceptable,” Kirkpatrick pointed out.

She noted that such dire working conditions can significantly lower morale, which has already been a concern for NOPD in recent years. The department has been grappling with record staffing issues following the defund the police movement of 2020.

“Where you work, where you live is not appropriate, it’s going to impact morale, so that has been a big factor,” she said.

Adding to the unpleasantness of the situation, Kirkpatrick mentioned that staff members sometimes arrive at work to find rat droppings on their desks.

In response to these issues, city leaders have proposed a plan to lease a new building for the police department. The proposed building is located across the street from the Caesars Superdome and the lease is expected to last for the next 10 years.

The new lease is anticipated to cost roughly $670,000 a year, in addition to an estimated $300,000 to actually move personnel to the new location. The police department is hoping to move into the new location in May, pending a full city council vote for final approval.

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