12:30 PM CST on Monday, December 5, 2005

Thanh Truong / WWL-TV Reporter

The New Orleans Police Department made some more major changes for this post-Katrina city as Superintendent Warren Riley pledged to rebuild the force through a series of new appointments and departments.

WWL-TV

New Orleans Police Chief Warren Riley swears in Captain Steven Nichols to his position as Assistant Superintendent.

Hurricane Katrina forced a great number of changes in the city and the police department was no exception. As New Orleans attempts to rebuild, Chief Riley said the department will be revamped.

For years, the NOPD was known for battling an extremely high crime rate and accusations of corruption. Chief Riley said that in a post-Katrina city, police misconduct will not be tolerated.

"There's only about 40 or 50 people that can make this entire police department look bad, and anybody who happens to be those 40 or 50 will really and truly be looking for another job," Riley said.

To oversee officers and their actions, Riley appointed longtime police spokesman Captain Marlon Defillo to the Public Integrity Division. The former head of that office, Deputy Chief Lonnie Swain, was moved to head up the newly created Bureau of Investigations. Swain said his main mission will be to conduct the best possible investigations for prosecution.

“I know we've received some issues in the past as it relates to investigations not being thorough and complete when they're brought to the District Attorney's Office, but that will be the hallmark of this bureau,” Swain said.

Riley, who was formally the second-in-command, appointed Captain Steven Nichols as Assistant Superintendent. Nichols said as people debate their return, a quality police department will factor into that decision, which requires a new level of professionalism.

“Not only professionalism in act, but in appearance; uniform wear,” Nichols said. “I'd like to see an Operations Bureau when a man or a woman comes to work in a disheveled uniform, to be sent home; they're no longer allowed to work. When they're unshaven they're sent home."

Riley also announced the creation of a new department: the Criminal Bureau of Intelligence, which will be headed by Captain Jimmy Scott.

WWL-TV will have more on this new department in later new broadcasts.