NEW ORLEANS — Mayor LaToya Cantrell improperly interfered in the New Orleans Police Department’s merit-based promotion process when she argued it was biased against a demoted former commander, the city’s Civil Service Commission ruled Monday.
“The Mayor’s actions violated the applicable provisions of the Louisiana Constitution and New Orleans Civil Service Rules, which require merit-based promotions and (prohibit) political discrimination and interference against classified employees,” the ruling says.
In a statement, the mayor’s office said it “respectfully disagrees with the findings of the Civil Service Commission and affirms that Mayor LaToya Cantrell did not interfere with the recent promotional process.”…