Orleans Parish sheriff candidates debate on WDSU Sizzling Seat
JAILBREAKS IN STATE HISTORY, AND A CYBER ATTACK. THE FUTURE OF THE JAIL IS IN LIMBO. WHO WILL LEAD A NEW CHAPTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE CITY? WHO EARNS YOUR VOTE? ORLEANS PARISH SHERIFF DEBATE STARTS RIGHT NOW. GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE DEBATE BETWEEN THE MAJOR CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR ORLEANS PARISH SHERIFF. I’M TRAVERS MACKEL. EARLY VOTING IS UNDERWAY, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED BEFORE YOU CAST YOUR BALLOT. SO WE INVITED THE INCUMBENT AND CHALLENGERS TONIGHT, WHO MET SEVERAL CRITERIA FROM SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, CAMPAIGN STAFF AND A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION THRESHOLD. AS OF SEPTEMBER 1ST, THOSE CANDIDATES ARE SHERIFF SUSAN HUDSON, EDWIN SHORTY AND MICHELLE WOODFORK. ALL ARE DEMOCRATS. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US. ALL ANSWERS ARE GOING TO BE 60S. WE DID DRAW STRAWS. COINCIDENTALLY, IT CAME OUT IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. SO, SHERIFF HUTSON, YOU HAVE 60S TO ANSWER OUR FIRST QUESTION. ALL THREE OF YOU ALL WILL GET THIS QUESTION. YOUR CAMPAIGN WEBSITES DID NOT APPEAR TO LAY OUT A CLEAR PLAN OR PROMISES TO VOTERS IN 60S. SHERIFF, WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PRIORITIES TO WIN THIS OFFICE? GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I’M ORLEANS PARISH SHERIFF SUSAN HUTSON. I’M NUMBER ONE ON THE BALLOT, AND I’M THE PEOPLE’S SHERIFF, AND I’M THE PEOPLE’S SHERIFF BECAUSE I HAVE KEPT MY PROMISES TO THE PEOPLE THAT I MADE WHEN I RAN FOR SHERIFF, I TOLD YOU I WOULD INVEST IN PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY AND CULTURE, AND I’VE DONE THAT. WE STARTED WITH OUR DEPUTIES TWO RAISES THAT THEY NEVER HAD FOR FIVE YEARS BEFORE I GOT INTO OFFICE. LIFE SAVING EQUIPMENT THEY DIDN’T HAVE LIKE RADIOS IN THE JAIL AND BALLISTIC VESTS ON THE STREETS. WE’VE ALSO MADE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE IN OUR CUSTODY. WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION TREATMENT, AS WELL AS JOB TRAINING AND EDUCATION. I PROMISE THE PEOPLE THIS I’M KEEPING THOSE PROMISES, BUT I ALSO SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY AND CULTURE EVERY DAY WITH RED BEANS, TENTS AND RESERVE DEPUTIES THAT UPHOLD THIS CULTURE AND UPHOLD WHAT MAKES THIS CITY SO SPECIAL. I’M SUSAN HUDSON, NUMBER ONE ON THE BALLOT. THE PEOPLE SHARE. MISTER SHORTY, YOU HAVE 60S. WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES? PRINCIPAL PRIORITY IS TO MAKE SURE OUR CITIZENS ARE SAFE AND THAT WE DO THINGS TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR EVERYDAY CITIZENS. WE KNOW THAT THE NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SHORTHANDED, AND THEY’RE GOING TO BE SHORTHANDED FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. SO MY PLAN IS TO MAKE SURE THAT DEPUTIES CAN ASSIST WITH TRAFFIC STOPS EVERY TIME I’M DRIVING AROUND NEW ORLEANS, NO ONE’S STOPPING AT STOP SIGNS. NO ONE’S STOPPING AT RED LIGHTS. WE’VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO CURTAIL THIS LAWLESS BEHAVIOR. ADDITIONALLY, OUR CITY IS FILLED WITH TRASH. WE CAN HAVE INMATES CLEAN UP THE TRASH. WE CAN HAVE INMATES TAKE THE THE AREAS OF GRAFFITI, SPRAY PAINT THOSE AREAS AND GET THEM CLEANED UP. WE CAN HAVE INMATES CLEAN OUT STORM DRAINS, TEAR DOWN BLIGHTED PROPERTY. WE KNOW WE’VE GOT PROBLEMS, BUT THESE PROBLEMS ARE FIXABLE. PUBLIC SAFETY IS A PRIORITY, AND WE’VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE JAILHOUSE DOORS ARE LOCKED AND THAT THEY REMAIN LOCKED. SO ALL OF OUR CITIZENS ARE SAFE AND THAT WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE JAIL IS SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY, IS SAFE. MISS WOODFORK IN 60S, WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES? MY PRIORITY IS TO DO WHAT I’VE ALWAYS DONE TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY, TO BRING PUBLIC SAFETY TO OUR CITIZENS. THE THE, THE, THE THINGS THAT THEY DESERVE MOST. AND THAT’S A SAFE JAIL. AND FOR PUBLIC SAFETY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET AT THE ORLEANS PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE, MAKE SURE WE’RE LOOKING AT STAFFING THE FACILITY AT THE AT THE ORLEANS PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE. THE QUESTION WAS, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO BRING? WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR THE JAIL? AND MY PRIORITIES IS TO MAKE IT A SAFE AND SECURE JAIL. MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO SUPPOSED TO BE INSIDE THE JAIL STAY INSIDE THE JAIL. BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SUFFICIENT STAFFING, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SUFFICIENT STAFFING, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BUDGET. AND IN ORDER TO GET THE BUDGET THAT YOU NEED, YOU HAVE TO WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU’RE GETTING THE FUNDS THAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO RUN THIS JAIL PROPERLY. AND THOSE ARE GOING TO BE MY PRIORITIES. SAFETY OF THIS CITY, THE SAFETY OF FOR PEOPLE INSIDE AND WORKING AT THE JAIL AND MAKING SURE THOSE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN JAIL STAY IN JAIL. SPEAKING OF THE BUDGET, MR. SHORTY, WE’RE GOING TO START THIS QUESTION WITH YOU. VIEWERS HAVE TOLD US OVER AND OVER AGAIN THEIR TOP QUESTION FOR ALL OF YOU ALL IS PREVENTING ANOTHER JAILBREAK. WE ALL KNOW DERRICK GROVES IS STILL ON THE RUN IN 60S. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU DO TO SECURE THE JAIL THAT WILL NOT COST ANY MORE MONEY, CONSIDERING THE SHERIFF’S BUDGET IS THE BIGGEST IT’S BEEN SINCE HURRICANE KATRINA. WE’VE GOT TO LOOK AT TECHNOLOGY. WE’VE GOT TO LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN USE CAMERAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE AREAS WHERE WE’VE GOT DEFICIENCIES, WHERE WE’VE GOT LOCKS AND WE’VE GOT FAULTY SITUATIONS RELATIVE TO THE ACTUAL FACILITY ARE COVERED BY CAMERAS AND COVERED BY TECHNOLOGY. THAT’S SOMETHING THAT’S VERY EASY TO DO. THAT’S SOMETHING THAT’S REASONABLE, AND THAT’S SOMETHING THAT I THINK YOU CAN GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND SAY, IF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING, YOU CAN GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING. THAT’S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN ALSO GO TO YOUR STATE PARTNERS AND FEDERAL PARTNERS AND SAY, LOOK, IF I NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING, THESE ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT I THINK WE CAN FEEL. IF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SHERIFF IS SAYING SHE DOESN’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, WE’VE GOT TO LOOK AT WHAT SHE SPENT MONEY ON. AND THAT’S PROBABLY WHY THE CITY COUNCIL DOESN’T WANT TO GIVE ADDITIONAL MONEY. IF YOU’RE WASTING MONEY ON HOTEL ROOMS FOR MARDI GRAS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THEN FOLKS DON’T FEEL THAT YOU’RE A GOOD STEWARD OF THE FUNDS THAT YOU’VE GOT, SO THEY DON’T WANT TO GIVE YOU ADDITIONAL FUNDS. WELL, WE’LL GET BACK, MISS WOODFORD. WE’LL GET TO YOU. SINCE YOU MENTIONED YOU SHERIFF, BY NAME, DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THAT REALLY QUICKLY ON HOW YOU SPEND MONEY? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO WHAT MR. SHORTY MAY NOT KNOW BECAUSE HE HAS NOT STUDIED WHAT THIS JOB OR THE CONSENT JUDGMENT IS THAT WE MEET WITH THE CITY COUNCIL’S BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIR AND THE CAO’S OFFICE ABOUT OUR BUDGET AND WHAT WE’RE SPENDING. AND THE MAJORITY OF THAT ARE SALARIES, AND THAT’S FOR EVERY PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY. SO THAT WAS A THAT WAS A MISDIRECTION THERE TRYING TO TALK ABOUT MARDI GRAS ROOMS AND NOT TALK ABOUT THE $900 MILLION I SAVED FROM MARDI GRAS BY COMING IN AND BRINGING IN 400 DEPUTIES. ALL RIGHT. WE’LL COME BACK TO YOU, MISS WOODFORD, LET’S GO BACK TO THAT QUESTION. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU DO TO SECURE THE JAIL THAT WILL NOT COST ANY MORE MONEY, CONSIDERING THE SHERIFF’S BUDGET IS THE BIGGEST IT’S BEEN SINCE KATRINA IN 60S DAY ONE, YOU HAVE TO DO A COMPLETE FORENSIC AUDIT OF THE BUDGET. MAKE SURE WE’RE NOT WASTING AND MISMANAGING MONEY, CUT THE FAT AND AND PUT THE MONEY WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. WE NEED TO GIVE THESE DEPUTIES THAT WORK THERE AN INCREASE IN SALARY. THAT’S IMPORTANT IN ORDER TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THOSE PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO HAVE AN INCREASE IN SALARY. AND SO YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET, MAKE SURE WE’RE NOT SPENDING IT ON WASTEFUL THINGS, MAKE SURE WE’RE CUTTING THE FAT AND MAKE SURE WE’RE WORKING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL IN ORDER TO GET THE FUNDS THAT WE NEED. IT’S GOING TO TAKE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND AND OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTNERS TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE THIS JAIL SAFE. AND ALSO FISCALLY SOUND. FACILITY. ALL RIGHT. SHERIFF, IN 60S, SAME QUESTION FOR YOU. IF REELECTED, YOUR BUDGET LAST YEAR WAS $64 MILLION, THE MOST SINCE KATRINA. WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU DO TO SECURE THE JAIL WITHOUT ASKING FOR MORE MONEY? THE FIRST THING THE COMMUNITY HAS TO UNDERSTAND. THERE’S A LITTLE BIT MORE TO IT. WHEN I GOT INTO OFFICE, WE WERE THREE YEAR OR THREE YEARS BEHIND IN STATE MANDATED AUDITS. NOBODY IN THE CITY COUNCIL TALKED ABOUT THAT. NOBODY TALKED ABOUT THAT GREAT FAUX PAS THAT WENT ON FROM THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION. WE HAD TO DO OUR AUDITS FIRST TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO CATCH UP THREE YEARS OF STATE MANDATED AUDITS, WHICH ARE OPEN TO ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC TO SEE. BUT I’VE ALSO CAME IN AND THE GREAT LET OUT OCCURRED BECAUSE I WAS TRANSPARENT. I TOLD EVERYBODY FOR THREE YEARS, WE HAVE TO FIX WHAT’S BROKEN IN HERE. I WENT TO CAPITAL BUDGETS. I WENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL’S BUDGET. I GOT NO MONEY FOR MORE DEPUTIES OR TO FIX WHAT’S BROKEN. SO I STARTED DOING IT MYSELF BEFORE THE GREAT LET OUT OCCURRED. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? TIME CAUGHT UP WITH US. EVERYBODY HAS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ROLE IN THAT. SO IN ABOUT 30S, WHEN YOU SAY THE GREAT LET OUT, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? BECAUSE I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD CALL THAT A JAILBREAK. YEAH. EXCEPT IF YOU’RE NOT LISTENING, BECAUSE WHAT I TOLD YOU WAS THAT IN ORDER, THERE’S NO WAY TO GET OUT OF THE ORLEANS JUSTICE CENTER EXCEPT WITH HELP. AND THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED. WE’VE CAUGHT ONE OF THEM, BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE GOING TO COME BEHIND THEM. WAIT FOR THAT. IT’S COMING. BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THERE’S NO WAY TO GET OUT. THERE ARE MULTIPLE DOORS, NO WAY TO GET OUT. SO THEY REMOVED TOILETS AND CUT BARS TO BE ABLE TO LET PEOPLE GET OUT. THE ONLY WAY TO GET TO THOSE WERE PEOPLE WHO WORKED IN THE ORGANIZATION. WHAT I PROMISED THIS COMMUNITY IS I’M ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT, BUT SO WILL ALL OF THEM BE I LET OUT IS YOUR TERM, NOT JAILBREAK. WE’RE GOING TO START THIS QUESTION WITH YOU. WE’RE GOING TO PLAY A SOUNDBITE HERE REALLY QUICKLY BECAUSE LET ME POINT THIS OUT. THESE TWO OPPONENTS ARE NOT REALLY ATTACKING YOU. MANY ANALYSTS FEEL THAT YOU’RE AN UNDERDOG DESPITE BEING THE INCUMBENT. YOU TOLD US SOMETHING ON MAY 16TH. WE’RE GOING TO PLAY IT AND LET YOU LISTEN TO IT. HERE. WHY DID IT HAPPEN JUST RIGHT NOW? RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, AS WE’RE GETTING READY TO START THIS SHERIFF’S RACE. THIS IS VERY SUSPICIOUS. WE KNOW THAT THEY HAD HELP. WE’RE SHOWING YOU THEY HAD HELP. THIS WAS COORDINATED. THERE’S MUCH MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE. WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? I JUST MENTIONED THAT, TRAVIS, THEY HAD INSIDE HELP, AND THERE WAS A PLOT TO GET THERE. AND WE’RE GOING TO SHOW THAT I CAN’T WAIT TILL I’M ABLE TO DO THAT. BUT OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW ALL THE LAW AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN AIRTIGHT CASE. BUT IT’S COMING, I PROMISE YOU THAT. AND YEAH, I TOLD YOU THAT BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. I INVITED THE ENTIRE MEDIA IN, INCLUDING WDSU, TO SEE THE JAIL BEFORE THE MILLAGE SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT WAS WRONG AND WHAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED. I DID THAT, I WAS TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT, AND PEOPLE WERE EXCITED ABOUT VOTING FOR THE MILLAGE AND TRUSTING ME TO GET THAT MONEY TO FIX WHAT WAS BROKEN. WE HAVE ALL THAT MOMENTUM GOING. PEOPLE ARE EXCITED. HEY, THEY WERE TELLING ME IT WAS ME AND MY WIFE OR ME AND MY CHILD WHO HELPED BRING THE MILLAGE OVER. PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING AND THE WORK THAT WE’RE DOING, SO SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE TO BREAK THAT MOMENTUM. I PROMISE YOU, SHERIFF’S OFFICES ARE POLITICAL OFFICES, AND WHEN I WALK THE STREETS AND I TALK TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY, YOU MAY NOT KNOW IT, BUT THEY KNOW THERE WAS A CONSPIRACY THERE. SO I HATE TO ASK THIS BECAUSE, LOOK, WE DON’T WANT TO THROW CONSPIRACIES OUT THERE. YOU CALLED IT A PLOT. IT HAS BEEN FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS. A PLOT BY WHO? THOSE WHO WORK IN THE OFFICE. YOU KNOW, WE’VE ALREADY ARRESTED ONE OF THEM. DID YOU MISS THAT? WE DID ARREST ONE OF THEM. BUT HE WAS NOT THE MASTERMIND. AND THERE’S MUCH MORE TO IT. BUT WE HAVE 900 CAMERAS AND THERE ARE 1400 TABLETS. WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO PULL OUT WHAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROSECUTE PEOPLE. AND I PROMISE YOU, YOU WE WILL. AND WE’RE GOING TO HOLD EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE. AND WE’RE ALSO GOING TO GET HIM BACK INTO CUFFS. I MISS WOODFORK WE’RE GOING TO START THIS QUESTION WITH YOU. THEN WE’RE GOING TO GO WITH YOU. MR. SHORTY. THE SHERIFF’S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE, CONTROL AND CUSTODY OF INMATES. BUT LET’S LOOK AT SOME OF YOUR RECENT ADS. WE’RE GOING TO PLAY THOSE REALLY QUICKLY HERE. WHEN NEW ORLEANS CALLS OUT FOR HELP, TOO OFTEN IT SHOWS UP TOO LATE. AND SOMETIMES NO ONE SHOWS UP AT ALL. SHE’S THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO CAN DELIVER RESULTS AND FIX OUR JAIL, BECAUSE SHE’S THE ONLY ONE WHO’S DONE IT BEFORE. SO, MR. SHORTY, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU’RE ALLUDING TO THE POLICE RESPONSE TIMES AND MISS WOODFORK, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU’RE ALLUDING TO YOUR TIME 30 YEARS WITH THE NOPD. BUT OPSO IS NOT THE MAIN POLICING AGENCY IN THE CITY. IT’S NEW ORLEANS POLICE. YOU RUN A JAIL, YOU DON’T SOLVE MURDERS. YOU DON’T EVEN GIVE SPEEDING TICKETS. THE NOPD DOES ALL THAT. SO WE’LL START THIS WITH YOU IN 60S. WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE IT’S MORE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY THAN ADMINISTRATION? THIS IS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. DEFINITELY. BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE JAIL IS SECURE FACILITY. SO IT IS ABOUT SECURING THE PUBLIC. IT’S ABOUT MANAGEMENT. IT’S ABOUT COMPETENT MANAGEMENT. IT’S ABOUT LEADERSHIP. AND THAT IS WHAT I’M ALLUDED TO IN MY IN MY COMMERCIAL. WHEN I SAY I’M THE ONLY ONE WHO’S DONE IT BEFORE, I’M THE ONLY CANDIDATE THAT’S RAN A LARGE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. THIS IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WITH OVER 1250 PEOPLE, A BUDGET OF $166 MILLION AND BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT IT. WE GOT CRIME DOWN 25%. WE GOT CARJACKINGS DOWN 45% AND WE TRIPLED OFFICER RECRUITMENT. AND THAT CAME FROM A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT I AUTHORED AND PUT IN PLACE. AND THEY’RE STILL USING THAT PLAN TODAY. AND RIGHT NOW THE CITY IS AT A HISTORIC 50 YEAR LOW AS FAR AS CRIME IS CONCERNED. AND IT IS THE DUTY OF THE SHERIFF TO HELP BRING CRIME DOWN BY HELPING THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE INSIDE WITH THOSE SECOND AND THIRD CHANCES, GETTING THEM THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, JOB SKILL TRAINING. SO WHEN THEY GO OUT, THEY ARE VIABLE CITIZENS. THEY’RE NOT GOING OUT CREATING MORE CRIMES, COMMITTING MORE CRIMES, AND BRINGING OUR RECIDIVISM RATE DOWN AND ALSO KEEPING CRIME DOWN. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. SHORTY. SAME QUESTION FOR YOU. WHY DO THE ADS MAKE IT SEEM LIKE IT’S MORE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY THAN ADMINISTRATION IN YOUR ADS? LOOK, THIS IS ALL ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. THE PUBLIC DIDN’T FEEL SAFE WHEN WE SAW TEN PEOPLE RUN OUT THE FRONT DOOR TO JAIL. THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT THEY’RE AT RISK BECAUSE A MURDERER IS RUNNING LOOSE IN OUR CITY. SO THIS JOB IS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WE’VE GOT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ASSIST THE NOPD. WE KNOW THAT THE NOPD IS TASKED WITH THE PRIMARY ROLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THIS CITY. BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP? NOT JUST SAY THAT’S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO WORRY ABOUT IT. WE’RE JUST GOING TO FOCUS ON THE JAIL. THE SHERIFF HAS A NUMBER OF RESPONSIBILITIES, NOT JUST THE JAIL, BUT MAKING SURE THAT THE JAIL IS SECURE, MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THE CIVIL SUBPOENAS GO OUT ON TIME, MAKING SURE THAT EVICTIONS HAPPEN. THE SHERIFF HAS A BREADTH OF OF RESPONSIBILITIES. AND WE’VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THOSE ARE DONE. BUT ALL OF THOSE GO INTO PUBLIC SAFETY, MAKING SURE THAT INMATES GET TO COURT TIMELY IS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THEIR DAY IN COURT. AND IF THEY’RE INNOCENT, THEY GET RELEASED. IF THEY’RE GUILTY, THEY GET THEIR TIME. SO THIS ENTIRE THIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN IS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. ALL RIGHT. WE ASKED THE SHERIFF A QUESTION ABOUT HER LANGUAGE WITH LET OUT THERE FOR A SECOND. SURE. WELL, FOLLOW UP ON THIS ONE. I HAVE SOMETHING ABOUT. YEAH, SURE. GO AHEAD REALLY QUICKLY. YEAH. TO BE CLEAR, THERE’S ONLY THREE PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THE WEIGHT OF RUNNING A JAIL IN THIS CITY SHERIFF, SHERIFF GUSMAN AND SHERIFF HUDSON. THE THE LIVES OF 350 PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THAT JAIL, THE LIVES OF THE 1400 IN OUR CUSTODY WHO DON’T LIKE EACH OTHER, WHO ARE TRYING TO KILL EACH OTHER ON THE STREETS, AND WE’RE TRYING TO KEEP THEM SAFE IN THERE, UNDERSTAFFED, UNDERMANNED AND UNDERFUNDED AND OVERPOPULATED. THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THIS DEPARTMENT HAVE TAKEN ON EVERYTHING I’VE ASKED THEM TO DO. WE JUST DON’T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE AND WE DON’T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT. THE THE FACILITY ITSELF NEEDS TO BE FIXED TO KEEP IT SAFE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE’RE GOING TO START THIS OFF WITH YOU, MISS WOODFORK. IT’S PUBLIC RECORD THAT YOU’VE HAD COMPLAINTS WITH NOPD. HOW CAN YOU ASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT THOSE PROBLEMS ARE IN THE REAR VIEW, AND THAT YOU WON’T HAVE ANY ISSUES MOVING FORWARD IF ELECTED SHERIFF? LOOK, THOSE INCIDENTS HAPPENED 22 YEARS AGO. I WAS DISCIPLINED, I SERVED THOSE DISCIPLINES, AND IT DID NOT. IT DID NOT STOP ME FROM MATRICULATING THROUGHOUT THE NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT. I WAS VETTED EACH TIME I WAS PROMOTED TO SERGEANT. LIEUTENANT, CAPTAIN, AND ULTIMATELY VETTED BY THE IACP AND BECAME THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE YOU KNOW, MY OPPONENTS WANT TO KEEP HARPING ON THOSE SLINGING MUD, HAVING ATTACK ADS, BUT IT’S IT’S DEFINITELY TRUE. NONE OF THOSE THINGS STOPPED ME FROM BECOMING THE THE SUPERINTENDENT. AND I DID A GREAT JOB AT IT. THE RESULTS ARE IN. YOU SEE, CRIME IS DOWN. YOU SAW WHAT I DID AS THE POLICE CHIEF. AND SO THOSE THINGS ARE IN MY PAST. I LEARNED FROM THEM. I TAUGHT FROM THEM. I MENTORED PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH ME AND FOR ME AND FOR ME, WITH THEM. AND SO I DON’T THINK IT’S OF NO CONSEQUENCE. AND I’M SURE EACH OF MY OPPONENTS HAVE THINGS IN THEIR PAST THAT I’M NOT GOING TO MENTION, AND THAT THEY WON’T MENTION. ALL RIGHT. LET’S START THIS QUESTION WITH YOU, MR. SHORTY. SPEAKING OF THINGS, YOU ALLOW YOUR CONSTABLES, YOUR DEPUTY CONSTABLES TO WORK DETAILS ACROSS THE CITY, EVEN THOUGH YOU ONLY REPRESENT ALGIERS. IS THAT A MONEY GRAB FOR YOUR OFFICE AND THOSE OFFICERS? AND HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE OPSO OFF DUTY DETAILS WHICH HAVE BEEN CONTROVERSIAL IN THE PAST? YOU HAVE 60S. WE DO IT BECAUSE THERE’S STATE LICENSE, AND THEY CAN DO IT WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS. AND I WOULD HANDLE IT THE SAME WAY THAT WE HANDLE AT THE CONSTABLE’S OFFICE, AT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE, WE WOULD ALLOW DEPUTIES TO WORK DETAILS THAT ARE APPROVED. THERE’S SOME APPROVALS THAT WE THAT WE’RE A LITTLE TIGHTER WITH RELATIVE TO ABOS. BUT THE DEPUTIES WORK THERE. THEY’RE DETAILS. WE MONITOR THEIR TRAINING. WE COVER THEM IN INSURANCE, AND THEN THEY GIVE ME A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SERVICE HOURS. THAT IS WHY OUR SERVICE ON IN ALGIERS GO OUT SO QUICKLY. WE HAVE VERY GREAT RESPONSE TIMES WITH ANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO. WE ALSO ARE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS BECAUSE OF THE THE RESERVE DEPUTIES. BUT LOOK, I WANT FOLKS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A GOOD LIVING. I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES. WE KNOW THE COST OF LIVING IN NEW ORLEANS IS HIGH, SO WE WANT TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES. AND I DON’T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT. ALL RIGHT, SHERIFF HUTTON, WE’RE GOING TO START THIS QUESTION OFF WITH YOU. VIEWERS TELL US THAT THEIR TOP QUESTION IS. TRANSPARENCY. YOU TALKED ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL DETAILS. OUR CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HIS OFFICE. THAT’S WHY WITH THE CONSTABLES, YOU SAID THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE WAS CONTROVERSIAL. I’D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. I DON’T THINK THAT WAS FAIR TO THROW THAT OUT. PLEASE DO. YOU CAN RESPOND TO CONTROVERSIAL DETAILS. THEN LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS. THE BIGGEST DETAIL IS THE ONE WE WORK IN THE FRENCH QUARTER. EVERY DAY OUR DEPUTIES GO OUT THERE AFTER WORKING IN THE JAIL 12 HOURS AND GO OUT THERE AND SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY. AND THEY WALK THE BEAT AND THEY SPEAK TO VENDORS, THEY SPEAK TO OUR VISITORS, THEY SPEAK TO PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE, AND THEY’RE LOVED AND THEY’RE SUPPORTED, AND THEY DO THE SAME THINGS WE DO IN THE JAIL, DEAL WITH THOSE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND ADDICTION CRISIS ON THE STREETS. THAT’S THE REAL STORY OF OPSO DETAILS. DO YOU MONITOR THE AMOUNT OF HOURS THAT THEY WORK AND WHO WORKS? WHAT WE DO? WE HAVE A DETAIL AND INSPECTION GROUP, WHICH IS PART OF OUR COMPLIANCE BUREAU, WHICH ALSO HELPS US WITH THE CONSENT JUDGMENT, WHICH WE ARE GETTING VERY CLOSE TO COMPLYING WITH. ALL RIGHT. LET’S START THIS QUESTION WITH YOU VIEWERS. TELL US THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS TRANSPARENCY. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO LET THE PUBLIC AND MEDIA KNOW WITHIN 30 MINUTES IF THERE’S EVER A JAILBREAK OR A CYBER ATTACK THAT THREATENS THE COMMUNITY? AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, STATE LAW REQUIRES A QUICK TIME FOR JUVENILE RESPONSE. BUT WHEN THE JAILBREAK HAPPENED, IT TOOK HOURS TO ALERT THE PUBLIC. SHERIFF? YEAH, IT TOOK HOURS FOR ME TO FIND OUT, NUMBER ONE. BUT THIS ISN’T ABOUT TRANSPARENCY. THIS IS ABOUT HOW YOU COMMUNICATE. TRANSPARENCY IS THE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS I’VE GOTTEN FROM THE MEDIA. JUST FISHING FOR ANYTHING. ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. AND THE 200 THAT WERE LEFT OVER FROM THE GUSMAN ADMINISTRATION. I ALSO ANSWERED, WE ANSWER PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS. WE ARE TRANSPARENT. WE EVEN PUT OUT WHAT GOES ON IN THE JAIL. SO THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED THIS BREAK. THE FIRST THING THAT HAD TO HAPPEN IS I HAD TO MAKE WHEN I FOUND OUT LATE, WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD NOTIFIED THE NOPD THROUGH THE UNITED STATES MARSHALS TASK FORCE, WHICH GETS TO ALL OF OUR PARTNER AGENCIES. AND THE SECOND THING WE DID WAS GO START TALKING TO THE VICTIMS, BECAUSE WE TALKED TO AS MANY AS WE COULD, AND ONE OF THEM EVEN SOUNDED LIKE MAYBE THE GUY WAS THERE. SO WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT HER AND SENT POLICE OUT TO HER AREA. THERE’S MORE TO IT THAN JUST THAT. WE ALSO HAD TO THEN LOCK DOWN THE WHOLE JAIL AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WHO WAS ALREADY OUT IN THE STREETS WAS ACCOUNTABLE FOR. SO IT WASN’T QUITE THAT SIMPLE. I REACHED OUT AND WAS ACCOUNTABLE TO EVERY HEAD OF AGENCY ABOUT THEIR NOTIFICATION. SO LET ME ASK. I ASKED RESPECTFULLY, A FOLLOW UP IN ABOUT 20 OR 30S HERE. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT HOURS LATER? IF YOU’RE THE SHERIFF, DOES NOBODY PICK UP A PHONE AND SAY, SHERIFF, WE HAD THE BIGGEST JAILBREAK IN STATE HISTORY. IT’S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED IN ALL THE OTHER PARISHES WHEN THESE BREAKS HAPPENED. WELL, THEY DIDN’T HAVE ONE THIS BIG. RESPECTFULLY, THAT’S NOT TRUE. THE ONE THAT HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER THAT. IT WAS A LONG TIME BEFORE THE SHERIFF DID FIND ONE PERSON, THOUGH. WELL, IT DOESN’T MATTER. THERE’S ONE PERSON OUT RIGHT NOW. EVERYBODY ELSE HAS BEEN CAPTURED. BUT IT WAS STILL SOMEBODY WHO WAS A DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY. CORRECT. AND SO THAT’S WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE. YEAH. THEY’RE NOT IN A HURRY TO TELL THEIR BOSS ABOUT THAT. WE’VE MADE SURE THAT THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THAT FIRST THE WARDEN WILL BE NOTIFIED. AND ME SHORTLY THEREAFTER SO THAT WE CAN RESPOND QUICKLY. AND I’VE ALREADY TALKED TO THE CITY ABOUT THEIR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, WHICH IS MORE EFFICIENT FOR GETTING IT OUT TO LARGER BODIES OF PEOPLE. AND USING THAT, WE USED THAT WITH THE CYBER ATTACK TO SHARE INFORMATION AS WELL. ACCORDING TO STATE REP, IT’S GOING TO BE REQUIRED UNDER STATE LAW HERE NEXT SESSION. MR. SHORTY, SAME QUESTION. WHAT WOULD YOUR PLAN BE FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY? CAN YOU ASSURE THAT YOU WOULD ALLOW THAT YOU WOULD NOTIFY THE MEDIA IN PUBLIC ABOUT JAILBREAKS IN CYBER ATTACKS WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF THAT HAPPENING? LOOK, I LOVE WDSU WEATHER WHEN WHEN WE’VE GOT A STORM APPROACHING, WE GET ALERTS, THE CITY ALERTS US. I DON’T SEE WHY WE CAN’T DO THAT. THAT’S A VERY SIMPLE FIX. THERE’S NO EXPLANATION FOR THE SHERIFF NOT KNOWING FOR SEVEN HOURS THAT THERE WAS A JAILBREAK. THERE’S NO EXPLANATION FOR NOT RESPONDING AND NOTIFYING THE PUBLIC AND THE VICTIMS OF THESE CRIMES FOR 2.5 HOURS. THAT IS INTOLERABLE. THAT’S THAT’S JUST RIDICULOUS. AND WE CAN DO BETTER. WE’VE GOT TO DO BETTER. IN THIS AGE OF TECHNOLOGY, WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEND THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS, THE MUG SHOTS OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHO ESCAPED FROM THE JAIL IMMEDIATELY TO YOUR PHONE TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON, BUT TO NOT KNOW FOR SEVEN HOURS AND TO NOT NOTIFY THE DA’S OFFICE, THE NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALL THAT TIME. THAT’S UNACCEPTABLE. MISS WOODFORK, STANDBY TO COME TO YOU, SHERIFF IN 20S. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT AGAIN? I KNOW I ASKED IT, BUT BECAUSE HE BROUGHT IT UP, IF YOU’D LIKE TO ADDRESS IT AGAIN, I THINK I EXPLAINED THIS THE FIRST TIME. YES. NO, I WAS NOT PROPERLY NOTIFIED IN A TIMELY MANNER. BUT ONCE WE DID GET THAT INFORMATION, WE GOT IT OUT THERE AND THAT INCLUDED THEIR BOOKING PHOTOS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THEM TO OUR PARTNERS WHO WENT OUT TO LOOK FOR THEM. NOT TRUE. I MISS WOODFORK IN 60S. WHAT WOULD YOUR PLAN BE WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPARENCY, ALERTING THE MEDIA AND PUBLIC WHEN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS HAPPEN AGAIN? TRANSPARENCY IS ESSENTIAL TO GAIN TRUST IN OUR WITH OUR CITIZENS AND WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS. AND WE’VE HEARD IT SAID WE HEARD CHIEF ANNE KIRKPATRICK SAY SHE LEARNED IN A MEETING LIKE AT 1030 LATER. SO THEY WEREN’T NOTIFIED TIMELY. THE SHERIFF SAYS THAT THEY NOTIFIED THE US MARSHALS TASK FORCE. THAT’S NOT NOTIFYING THE HEADS OF YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS. THAT’S NOT NOTIFYING THE DA’S OFFICE, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE MAYOR’S ADMINISTRATION. AND SO MY PLAN IS TO HAVE AN ALERT SYSTEM AND MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT’S BIGGER THAN THIS IN ORDER TO TO KNOW, TO NOTIFY ANYBODY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE STAFF THERE TO SEE THAT ANYBODY IS ESCAPING. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE IT MECHANISMS THERE, THE CAMERAS, THE BUZZERS ON DOORS, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT TO MAKE SURE. BUT YOU NEED AN ALERT SYSTEM TO ALERT EVERYONE IN THE CITY THAT TEN INMATES HAVE ESCAPED. MR. SHORTY, WE’RE GOING TO START WITH YOU. WE’RE GOING TO GO TO 30S TO GET THIS QUESTION IN THE JAIL IS UNDER A CONSENT DECREE. YOU ALL ARE ALL WELL AWARE OF THAT. I’VE GOT SOME NOTES HERE AND SOME LISTS IN 30S. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, OR ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE CONSENT DECREE, IS WHEN IT COMES TO THE JAIL IN ORLEANS PARISH TWO THINGS MAKING SURE THAT YOU REPORT ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND USE OF FORCE, AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU PROVIDE PROPER HEALTH CARE TO THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH CARE CRISES. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THE CONSENT DECREE. EVERYONE KIND OF USES IT AS A BOOGEYMAN OF WHY THEY CAN’T DO CERTAIN THINGS. IT’S ABOUT REPORTING. IT’S ABOUT IF YOU HAVE A USE OF IF YOU HAVE TO USE VIOLENCE ON AN INMATE BECAUSE OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION, YOU REPORT IT PROPERLY, MAKING SURE THAT THERE’S CONTINUITY OF MEDICAL CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO COME TO THE JAIL, THAT THEY GET THE MEDICAL TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED, THAT THAT’S WHAT THE CONSENT DECREE IS ABOUT. MISS WOODFORK 30S, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TOP PRIORITIES IN THE CONSENT DECREE? ACCORDING TO THE MONITORS THAT YOU WOULD FOCUS ON SUPERVISION IN THE MENTAL AND MEDICAL HEALTH UNIT RIGHT NOW, THE LAST REPORT THAT WE’VE SEEN, THE DECREASE, THEY WERE UP AT 68% COMPLIANCE. THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN ABOUT 41, 43% CONSENT DECREE COMPLIANCE. AND IT’S BECAUSE OF MENTAL AND MEDICAL HEALTH UNIT THAT NEED THAT THEY’RE GOING TO OPEN IN 2026. SO I DON’T THINK THE NEEDS OF THE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING HOUSED THERE ARE BEING TREATED AS FAR AS MENTAL AND MEDICAL HEALTH. WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF THAT. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE CONTRACTOR THAT IS THERE, WELLPATH, IS DOING THEIR JOB IN 30S SHERIFF, ACCORDING TO THE NUMBERS, THE SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE WENT FROM 100 THINGS IN SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE IN MAY OF 21, IT’S DOWN TO 70 AND 2025 AND 30S. WHAT WOULD YOU FOCUS ON IF REELECTED WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING IN COMPLIANCE? WELL, IT STARTED GOING BACK BEFORE I GOT INTO OFFICE. I DIDN’T GET INTO OFFICE UNTIL MID 2022. BUT HERE’S THE BIGGEST THING YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND. THERE WERE TWO BIG PARTS MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. AS MY OPPONENTS HAVE MENTIONED, WE HAD TO GET RID OF THAT PROVIDER AND BRING IN A NEW ONE WHO’S ONLY BEEN IN HERE ABOUT A YEAR AND SOME CHANGE TO MAKE SURE WE COULD DO THAT BETTER. AND IT’S IMPROVING. AND THEN VIOLENCE IN THE JAIL, WHICH YOU CAN ONLY DEAL WITH WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING MORE DEPUTIES. AND I NEED MORE PAY TO HAVE MORE DEPUTIES. BUT EVEN THROUGHOUT THAT AND TAKING ON MARDI GRAS AND TAKING ON OTHER THINGS, WE ARE STILL ONLY FIVE PARAGRAPHS AWAY FROM HAVING EVERYTHING IN SOME FORM OF COMPLIANCE. ALL RIGHT. SO I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT A LOT OF TOPICS. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE OUT OF TIME. WE’RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO MAKE A QUICK CLOSING STATEMENT. 45 SECONDS. YOU DREW STRAWS, MR. SHORTY, MISS WOODFORK AND SHERIFF HUDSON IS THE ORDER WE’RE GOING IN. SO, MR. SHORTY, YOU GET 45 SECONDS TO WRAP US UP. I’M EDWIN SHORTY, I’M NUMBER FIVE ON YOUR BALLOT. I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT MISS WOODFORK SAID ABOUT SLINGING MUD. IT’S NOT SLINGING MUD. IF IT’S IN YOUR FILE SIX TIMES, SUSPENDED BY FOUR DIFFERENT CHIEFS. IF ANYONE ELSE HAD DONE THAT, THEY WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO RISE TO THE TO THE POSITION OF CHIEF. THE ISSUE IS NOT SHE OVERCAME THAT TO BECOME CHIEF. THE ISSUE IS HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? HOW DO YOU CONTINUE TO GET PROMOTIONS WITH SUCH BLEMISHES ON YOUR RECORD? THAT’S THE KIND OF NEPOTISM AND CRONYISM THAT THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS ARE TIRED OF. THAT DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE. AND IN NO OTHER CITY WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED. ELECT ME AS YOUR SHERIFF AND I’LL BRING HONESTY BACK TO THIS OFFICE. MISS WOODFORK, YOU’RE UP. I KNOW YOU PLAN TO RESPOND TO THAT. AND IT’S ALSO TIME TO MAKE A CLOSING STATEMENT AS WELL, TOO. THANK YOU. WHAT? MY OPPONENT DOESN’T UNDERSTAND IS THAT DISCIPLINE IS MEANT TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR. AND SO 22 YEARS AGO, I CHANGED MY BEHAVIOR AND I CONTINUED ON MY JOB EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST 33 YEARS AS A NEW ORLEANS POLICE OFFICER. AND I SERVED THIS COMMUNITY, AND I SERVED IT WELL AT EVERY RANK SERGEANT, LIEUTENANT, CAPTAIN, AND ULTIMATELY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT. MY OPPONENT WANTS TO SAY I WASN’T THE SUPERINTENDENT, BUT ON DECEMBER 22ND, 2022, I RAISED MY HAND AND WAS SWORN IN AS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO THERE IS MUDSLINGING AND LIES. BUT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO TALK, WHO WITH SMALL MINDS, THEY TALK ABOUT PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH GREAT PEOPLE WITH GREAT MINDS TALK ABOUT IDEAS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. SHERIFF HUDSON, YOU HAVE 45 SECONDS TO WRAP US UP AND LET PEOPLE KNOW WHY YOU FEEL YOU’RE THE BEST CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE. FIRST OF ALL, I’M GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE AND NOT HAVE MY WORDS CHANGED. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THIS SHERIFF SUPPORTS PEOPLE, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY. OUR RECIDIVISM RATE HAS GONE FROM ABOUT 83% TO ABOUT 63%, BECAUSE THE WORK WE’RE DOING, MENTAL HEALTH, ADDICTION, JOB TRAINING AND EDUCATION WORK, AND WE CAN BE THE SAFEST CITY IN THE STATE IF WE CONTINUE THAT AND IF WE SUPPORT OUR DEPUTIES LIKE I’VE DONE, THEY’LL CONTINUE TO DO THE AMAZING WORK UNDERPAID, UNDERSTAFFED, OVERPOPULATED AND WITHOUT THE THE FUNDING THAT THEY NEED TO DO THIS WORK, WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY AT NO COST AND THIS CULTURE, BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT MAKES NEW ORLEANS, NEW ORLEANS, ORLEANS PARISH SHERIFF SUSAN HUTSON NUMBER ONE ON THE BALLOT. AND I’M THE PEOPLE’S SHERIFF. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SHERIFF SUSAN HUTSON, THE INCUMBENT, EDWIN SHORTY AND MICHELLE WOODFORK, ALL DEMOCRATS, WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, BUT WE ARE OUT OF TIME. YOU CAN SEE THIS ENTIRE DEBATE STARTING RIGHT NOW. AS SOON AS IT ENDS, IT’S GOING TO BE ON OUR WEBSITE. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE CLIPS ON ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, AND WE’RE GOING TO HAVE MUCH MORE TO FOLLOW UP. COMING UP TONIGHT AT 10:00. I’M TRAVERS MACKEL. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
Orleans Parish sheriff candidates debate on WDSU Sizzling Seat
Three candidates within the race for Orleans Parish sheriff went face to face in a WDSU Sizzling Seat debate.Sheriff Susan Hutson, former Interim NOPD Superintendent Michelle Woodfork, and Algiers Constable Edwin Shorty debated dwell on WDSU. WDSU Anchor Travers Mackel moderated. Associated hyperlinks: WDSU Oct. 11 Voter GuideWDSU invited candidates to this Sizzling Seat debate who met a number of standards, together with social media presence, marketing campaign workers, and a marketing campaign contribution threshold as of Sept. 1.Questions requested in the course of the debate had been gathered from group members particularly for the candidates.Candidates answered questions in an order chosen by a random draw. Beneath is a breakdown of every query from the controversy.Marketing campaign guarantees: Query: Your marketing campaign web sites don’t seem to put out your plan or guarantees to voters. What are your high priorities operating this jail? Hutson: Sheriff Susan mentioned she is the individuals’s sheriff as a result of she has saved her guarantees when she first ran for sheriff. She mentioned she obtained two raises for deputies and obtained life-saving gear for the jail. She mentioned she added psychological well being and habit remedies to the jail. She mentioned she helps the group and tradition and upholds what makes town particular. Shorty: Shorty mentioned his primary precedence is conserving residents protected and bettering high quality of life for town of New Orleans. He desires deputies to help an undermanned NOPD. He mentioned he additionally desires to deal with town’s litter drawback by utilizing inmates to assist clear out town, tear down blighted property, and clear catch basins. He mentioned he desires to ensure the jail doorways keep locked and curtail lawless conduct. Woodfork: Woodfork mentioned she’s going to do what she has alwasy performed, which is bringing public security to the residents. She desires to concentrate on staffing and guarantee that the jail is protected and safe. She additionally desires to concentrate on a sound price range and improve staffing on the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Workplace. Woodfork mentioned her precedence is to make it a protected jail, and to maintain inmates inside it. Woodfork desires to work with the New Orleans Metropolis Council on the jail price range to make sure a protected jail and maintain inmates who’re in jail behind bars. Stopping one other jailbreak: Query: The viewers high query was how you’ll stop one other jailbreak. What’s the very first thing you’ll do to safe the jail that won’t value any more cash contemplating the sheriff’s price range is the largest it has been since Katrina? Shorty: Shorty says he desires to deal with considerations of one other jailbreak with expertise. He mentioned he’d like to make use of cameras to deal with areas of deficiencies. He mentioned it’s simple to do, and he would work with the New Orleans Metropolis Council and state companions to advocate for added funding for the expertise wanted. He mentioned he would additionally want to take a look at what cash was already spent on in order that he generally is a good steward of the funds he has. Hutson: Hutson mentioned when she first obtained into workplace, her staff needed to catch up as a result of the company was three years behind in state audits. She mentioned she needed to full these audits first to get a greater understanding of her price range. Hutson then referenced the jailbreak in a time period she known as “the good set free.” She mentioned earlier than the jailbreak, she tried to warn concerning the price range points. She mentioned she obtained no cash for the price range earlier than “the good let” out occurred. Hutson clarified her assertion concerning the jail break being a set free as a result of she maintains the trouble was coordinated and an inside job. Woodfork: Woodfork mentioned she desires to do a forensic audit of the jail on day one. She mentioned she ants to chop the fats and improve the deputies wage. She mentioned she desires to ensure there isn’t a wasteful spending. She mentioned she’s going to work with the New Orleans Metropolis Council to get the funds wanted to have a fiscally sound company. Candidate particular questions: Query: Sheriff Susan Hutson, your two fundamental opponents will not be attacking you. Many really feel you’re an underdog regardless of being the incumbent. Again on Could 16, the day of the jailbreak, you mentioned the timing of the jailbreak was suspicious. What did you imply by that? Huston: Hutson blamed the jailbreak on price range points and maintains the jailbreak was an inside conspiracy. She believes the particular person accountable might be in cuffs. Hutson mentioned there may be extra to the jailbreak and that investigators are pouring by a whole lot of movies from the jailbreak. She mentioned she was unable to say far more because of the ongoing investigation. Query: It’s public document that you’ve got had complaints whereas with the NOPD. How will you guarantee the general public these issues are within the rearview mirror and you will not have points shifting ahead? Woodfork: Woodfork mentioned the incidents referenced in assault adverts occurred 22 years in the past. She mentioned that the incidents did occurs, and that she was disciplined. She mentioned these incidents didn’t cease her from working up within the NOPD to develop into interim superintendent. She mentioned she realized from these incidents, and mentioned she will not point out issues from her candidate’s previous. Query: You permit your deputy constables to work particulars throughout town although you solely characterize Algiers. Is {that a} cash seize to your workplace, and the way would you deal with OPSO off-duty particulars, which have been controversial? Shorty: Shorty mentioned he would permit OPSO deputies to work particulars which are authorised. He mentioned he would monitor these particulars and practice the deputies to do these particulars correctly. He mentioned he desires individuals in regulation enforcement to make a very good dwelling and supply for his or her households. Huston responded to the OPSO particulars, which have been controversial up to now when coping with Mardi Gras particulars. Hutson mentioned the French Quarter is the largest element within the metropolis. She mentioned OPSO deputies deal with habit and psychological well being disaster’s throughout these off-duty particulars. She says she screens these particulars. Transparency: Viewers inform us their high query is transparency. What’s your plan to let the general public and media know inside half-hour about any jail breaks or cyberattacks? Hutson: Hutson mentioned the jailbreak was not about transparency, however about communication. She mentioned she was not informed for hours concerning the jailbreak. She talked about that she and her staff solutions public information requests, even responding to requests from Marlin Gusman’s administration. She defined that after the jailbreak she first needed to let the US Marshals and the NOPD know, and begin speaking to victims. She mentioned she additionally needed to lockdown the jail and ensure everybody was accounted for. Huston mentioned that she did present data to the general public in a well timed method, and addressed the workers not notifying her sooner. Woodfork: Woodfork mentioned transparency is crucial to achieve belief with residents and regulation enforcement companions. Woodfork mentioned Hutson didn’t notify regulation enforcement companions in a well timed method, citing NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick studying in a gathering hours later. She mentioned her plan is to have an alert system. She additionally mentioned to inform individuals, the company has to have a workers in place to know there may be an escape. Shorty: Shorty mentioned that town alert system must be used to speak jailbreaks. He mentioned there was no clarification that the sheriff did not know for seven hours that there was a jailbreak. He mentioned that was insupportable and ridiculous. He mentioned town has to do higher, and that mugshots and names of those that escaped ought to have been despatched straight to individuals’s telephones. Hutson responded, saying as soon as she was notified by her workers she did get data out to companions and the general public in a well timed method. Consent decree: Query: The jail is underneath a consent decree. What’s the key situation the federal authorities says is the largest situation proper now with the jail? Shorty: Shorty mentioned reporting acts of violence and use of drive is the important thing situation. He confused the necessity for reporting psychological well being crises, and that the consent decree is a reporting mechanism. He mentioned many individuals deal with the consent decree as a boogeyman, however confused the significance of reporting so individuals get the medical remedies they want. Woodfork: Woodfork mentioned the largest situation is supervision of the psychological and medical well being unit. Woodfork mentioned the wants aren’t being met in these two areas for inmates. She mentioned as of the final report there was a lower of compliance. Woodfork mentioned that is due to the psychological and medical well being unit opening up in 2026. Hutson answered the identical query, particularly referencing the decreased compliance: Hutson: Hutson mentioned she did not get into workplace till mid-2022. She mentioned she needed to do away with a supplier so as to enhance the medical and psychological well being facets to the consent decree. She mentioned she then needed to concentrate on rising deputy pay. She confused that OPSO is simply 5 paragraphs away from having all the things in compliance. Closing statements: Shorty: Shorty centered his closing assertion on Michelle Woodfork’s claims about mudsliging. Shorty mentioned it isn’t slinging mud whether it is in your file. He mentioned the difficulty is not about Woodfork getting promotions. He mentioned the query is how? He requested how did Michelle Woodfork get these promotions along with her document? Shorty mentioned in no different metropolis would that be allowed. Shorty mentioned if he’s elected, he’d be certain that cronyism and nepotism would not occur. Woodfork: Woodfork used her closing assertion to reply to Shorty. She mentioned self-discipline is supposed to vary conduct. Twenty two years in the past Woodfork mentioned she modified her conduct and spent 33 years as a NOPD officer. She mentioned she served the group nicely. She referenced Shorty’s remark that she wasn’t superintendent, however referenced her swearing in ceremony as proof to her promotion. She doubled down on allegations of mudslinging and lies. Hutson: Hutson mentioned she was grateful for the chance to talk to the group and never have her phrases modified. She mentioned it’s important for individuals to know that she helps individuals, tradition and group. She famous a lowered recidivism charge and touted training and job coaching packages which have labored underneath her tenure. She mentioned she goes to proceed supporting the group for free of charge. Hutson mentioned she is the primary candidate on the ballots, and the individuals’s sheriff.
Three candidates within the race for Orleans Parish sheriff went face to face in a WDSU Sizzling Seat debate.
Sheriff Susan Hutson, former Interim NOPD Superintendent Michelle Woodfork, and Algiers Constable Edwin Shorty debated dwell on WDSU.
WDSU Anchor Travers Mackel moderated.
Associated hyperlinks: WDSU Oct. 11 Voter Information
WDSU invited candidates to this Sizzling Seat debate who met a number of standards, together with social media presence, marketing campaign workers, and a marketing campaign contribution threshold as of Sept. 1.
Questions requested in the course of the debate had been gathered from group members particularly for the candidates.
Candidates answered questions in an order chosen by a random draw.
Beneath is a breakdown of every query from the controversy.
Marketing campaign guarantees:
Query: Your marketing campaign web sites don’t seem to put out your plan or guarantees to voters. What are your high priorities operating this jail?
Hutson: Sheriff Susan mentioned she is the individuals’s sheriff as a result of she has saved her guarantees when she first ran for sheriff. She mentioned she obtained two raises for deputies and obtained life-saving gear for the jail. She mentioned she added psychological well being and habit remedies to the jail. She mentioned she helps the group and tradition and upholds what makes town particular.
Shorty: Shorty mentioned his primary precedence is conserving residents protected and bettering high quality of life for town of New Orleans. He desires deputies to help an undermanned NOPD. He mentioned he additionally desires to deal with town’s litter drawback by utilizing inmates to assist clear out town, tear down blighted property, and clear catch basins. He mentioned he desires to ensure the jail doorways keep locked and curtail lawless conduct.
Woodfork: Woodfork mentioned she’s going to do what she has alwasy performed, which is bringing public security to the residents. She desires to concentrate on staffing and guarantee that the jail is protected and safe. She additionally desires to concentrate on a sound price range and improve staffing on the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Workplace. Woodfork mentioned her precedence is to make it a protected jail, and to maintain inmates inside it. Woodfork desires to work with the New Orleans Metropolis Council on the jail price range to make sure a protected jail and maintain inmates who’re in jail behind bars.
Stopping one other jailbreak:
Query: The viewers high query was how you’ll stop one other jailbreak. What’s the very first thing you’ll do to safe the jail that won’t value any more cash contemplating the sheriff’s price range is the largest it has been since Katrina?
Shorty: Shorty says he desires to deal with considerations of one other jailbreak with expertise. He mentioned he’d like to make use of cameras to deal with areas of deficiencies. He mentioned it’s simple to do, and he would work with the New Orleans Metropolis Council and state companions to advocate for added funding for the expertise wanted. He mentioned he would additionally want to take a look at what cash was already spent on in order that he generally is a good steward of the funds he has.
Hutson: Hutson mentioned when she first obtained into workplace, her staff needed to catch up as a result of the company was three years behind in state audits. She mentioned she needed to full these audits first to get a greater understanding of her price range. Hutson then referenced the jailbreak in a time period she known as “the good set free.” She mentioned earlier than the jailbreak, she tried to warn concerning the price range points. She mentioned she obtained no cash for the price range earlier than “the good let” out occurred. Hutson clarified her assertion concerning the jail break being a set free as a result of she maintains the trouble was coordinated and an inside job.
Woodfork: Woodfork mentioned she desires to do a forensic audit of the jail on day one. She mentioned she ants to chop the fats and improve the deputies wage. She mentioned she desires to ensure there isn’t a wasteful spending. She mentioned she’s going to work with the New Orleans Metropolis Council to get the funds wanted to have a fiscally sound company.
Candidate particular questions:
Query: Sheriff Susan Hutson, your two fundamental opponents will not be attacking you. Many really feel you’re an underdog regardless of being the incumbent. Again on Could 16, the day of the jailbreak, you mentioned the timing of the jailbreak was suspicious. What did you imply by that?
Huston: Hutson blamed the jailbreak on price range points and maintains the jailbreak was an inside conspiracy. She believes the particular person accountable might be in cuffs. Hutson mentioned there may be extra to the jailbreak and that investigators are pouring by a whole lot of movies from the jailbreak. She mentioned she was unable to say far more because of the ongoing investigation.
Query: It’s public document that you’ve got had complaints whereas with the NOPD. How will you guarantee the general public these issues are within the rearview mirror and you will not have points shifting ahead?
Woodfork: Woodfork mentioned the incidents referenced in assault adverts occurred 22 years in the past. She mentioned that the incidents did occurs, and that she was disciplined. She mentioned these incidents didn’t cease her from working up within the NOPD to develop into interim superintendent. She mentioned she realized from these incidents, and mentioned she will not point out issues from her candidate’s previous.
Query: You permit your deputy constables to work particulars throughout town although you solely characterize Algiers. Is {that a} cash seize to your workplace, and the way would you deal with OPSO off-duty particulars, which have been controversial?
Shorty: Shorty mentioned he would permit OPSO deputies to work particulars which are authorised. He mentioned he would monitor these particulars and practice the deputies to do these particulars correctly. He mentioned he desires individuals in regulation enforcement to make a very good dwelling and supply for his or her households.
Huston responded to the OPSO particulars, which have been controversial up to now when coping with Mardi Gras particulars. Hutson mentioned the French Quarter is the largest element within the metropolis. She mentioned OPSO deputies deal with habit and psychological well being disaster’s throughout these off-duty particulars. She says she screens these particulars.
Transparency:
Viewers inform us their high query is transparency. What’s your plan to let the general public and media know inside half-hour about any jail breaks or cyberattacks?
Hutson: Hutson mentioned the jailbreak was not about transparency, however about communication. She mentioned she was not informed for hours concerning the jailbreak. She talked about that she and her staff solutions public information requests, even responding to requests from Marlin Gusman’s administration. She defined that after the jailbreak she first needed to let the US Marshals and the NOPD know, and begin speaking to victims. She mentioned she additionally needed to lockdown the jail and ensure everybody was accounted for. Huston mentioned that she did present data to the general public in a well timed method, and addressed the workers not notifying her sooner.
Woodfork: Woodfork mentioned transparency is crucial to achieve belief with residents and regulation enforcement companions. Woodfork mentioned Hutson didn’t notify regulation enforcement companions in a well timed method, citing NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick studying in a gathering hours later. She mentioned her plan is to have an alert system. She additionally mentioned to inform individuals, the company has to have a workers in place to know there may be an escape.
Shorty: Shorty mentioned that town alert system must be used to speak jailbreaks. He mentioned there was no clarification that the sheriff did not know for seven hours that there was a jailbreak. He mentioned that was insupportable and ridiculous. He mentioned town has to do higher, and that mugshots and names of those that escaped ought to have been despatched straight to individuals’s telephones.
Hutson responded, saying as soon as she was notified by her workers she did get data out to companions and the general public in a well timed method.
Consent decree:
Query: The jail is underneath a consent decree. What’s the key situation the federal authorities says is the largest situation proper now with the jail?
Shorty: Shorty mentioned reporting acts of violence and use of drive is the important thing situation. He confused the necessity for reporting psychological well being crises, and that the consent decree is a reporting mechanism. He mentioned many individuals deal with the consent decree as a boogeyman, however confused the significance of reporting so individuals get the medical remedies they want.
Woodfork: Woodfork mentioned the largest situation is supervision of the psychological and medical well being unit. Woodfork mentioned the wants aren’t being met in these two areas for inmates. She mentioned as of the final report there was a lower of compliance. Woodfork mentioned that is due to the psychological and medical well being unit opening up in 2026.
Hutson answered the identical query, particularly referencing the decreased compliance:
Hutson: Hutson mentioned she did not get into workplace till mid-2022. She mentioned she needed to do away with a supplier so as to enhance the medical and psychological well being facets to the consent decree. She mentioned she then needed to concentrate on rising deputy pay. She confused that OPSO is simply 5 paragraphs away from having all the things in compliance.
Closing statements:
Shorty: Shorty centered his closing assertion on Michelle Woodfork’s claims about mudsliging. Shorty mentioned it isn’t slinging mud whether it is in your file. He mentioned the difficulty is not about Woodfork getting promotions. He mentioned the query is how? He requested how did Michelle Woodfork get these promotions along with her document? Shorty mentioned in no different metropolis would that be allowed. Shorty mentioned if he’s elected, he’d be certain that cronyism and nepotism would not occur.
Woodfork: Woodfork used her closing assertion to reply to Shorty. She mentioned self-discipline is supposed to vary conduct. Twenty two years in the past Woodfork mentioned she modified her conduct and spent 33 years as a NOPD officer. She mentioned she served the group nicely. She referenced Shorty’s remark that she wasn’t superintendent, however referenced her swearing in ceremony as proof to her promotion. She doubled down on allegations of mudslinging and lies.
Hutson: Hutson mentioned she was grateful for the chance to talk to the group and never have her phrases modified. She mentioned it’s important for individuals to know that she helps individuals, tradition and group. She famous a lowered recidivism charge and touted training and job coaching packages which have labored underneath her tenure. She mentioned she goes to proceed supporting the group for free of charge. Hutson mentioned she is the primary candidate on the ballots, and the individuals’s sheriff.
