The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) finds itself dealing with an unusual problem: rats that have infiltrated the department’s run-down headquarters and are getting high on confiscated marijuana from the evidence room.
Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick recently revealed to the Criminal Justice Committee, “The rats are eating our marijuana. They’re all high,” painting a bizarre picture of the current state of affairs at the police station.
While the idea of stoned rats roaming the halls of the NOPD might seem funny, it highlights the seriously poor conditions of the department’s facilities. Beyond the pot-loving rodents, the building is also infested with cockroaches, riddled with mold, and plagued by malfunctioning elevators and restrooms.
The lack of air conditioning only adds to the miserable working environment that officers must endure as they strive to maintain order in one of America’s most iconic and tourist-friendly cities.
New graffiti has popped up on the side of NOPD's evidence room after Chief Anne Kirkpatrick revealed that the building is infested with rats that have been eating narcotics: https://t.co/5cc0J2HDID pic.twitter.com/pfGmuEuLoa
— FOX 8 New Orleans (@FOX8NOLA) March 13, 2024
It’s particularly striking that this revelation comes right after New Orleans hosted its famous Mardi Gras celebrations, which attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors. The contrast between the festive atmosphere in the streets and the deplorable conditions within the police headquarters illustrates the urgent need to address the NOPD’s facility issues.
Superintendent Kirkpatrick aptly noted the negative impact of such working conditions on employee morale, stating, “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.”
The NOPD has been struggling with significant staffing problems in recent years, a challenge compounded by the ill-conceived “defund the police” movement of 2020. The unsanitary and hazardous work environment only further demoralizes an already strained police force.
Meanwhile at #NOPD pic.twitter.com/DFrboiLCvv
— Nola Trash Talk (@nolatrashtalk) March 11, 2024
The situation has deteriorated to the point where officers come to work only to find rat droppings on their desks – an appalling and unacceptable reality that no employee should have to face.
Recognizing the urgency of the matter, city leaders have proposed a plan to lease a new building across from the Caesars Superdome for the next decade. Although this move comes with a hefty price tag – roughly $670,000 per year in lease costs and an extra $300,000 for the actual relocation – it is a crucial step in providing the NOPD with an appropriate workspace.
The NOPD cannot be expected to carry out its duties effectively while battling marijuana-munching rats, cockroaches, mold and subpar facilities. The time has come for the city to invest in its police force and provide them with a work environment that reflects the respect and appreciation they deserve.