NEW ORLEANS --
New Orleans Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas has a new tier of leaders in place in the police department.
The 16 are men and women who have worked inside the department for years. Their new titles will be commander, and they are considered to be the NOPD's new top brass.
The WDSU I-Team broke the story earlier this year about Serpas wanting to shake up the command structure of the department, and on Thursday, his goal was realized.
The 16 new commanders will run the numerous police districts and divisions, like the crime lab and investigations.
The commander positions are outside of civil service, meaning Serpas can hire and demote the commanders at will. He said it's the kind of flexibility the department needs, especially after a scathing report by the Justice Department blasting department policy.
"(This is) the first time in history that the city civil service, council and the mayor have granted an unparralled opportunity to support the promotion of the brightest, the most aggressive, the most ready to be senior leaders in modern-day law enforcement," Serpas said.
Some of the people promoted were captains. All commanders will make about $100,000 a year.
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