Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice | Official Website
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana has ended the consent decree that placed the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) under federal oversight since 2013. The decision follows a joint request by the Justice Department and the City of New Orleans, citing NOPD’s completion of reforms in areas such as use of force, crisis intervention, and stops, searches, and arrests.
“We are proud to recognize the New Orleans Police Department’s sustained progress and commitment to constitutional policing,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We credit the officers and supervisors who have transformed NOPD — despite local political obstacles — and who continue to work to keep communities safe.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson for the Eastern District of Louisiana stated: “We join our Justice Department colleagues in the Civil Rights Division in applauding the collaborative efforts with the NOPD that have resulted in today’s termination. The NOPD’s reforms have already borne many good fruits in our community. There can be no question that our city is safer, and our police department is better, as a direct result of this case.”
The Justice Department began investigating NOPD in 2012 under federal law following findings that revealed violations of constitutional rights and civil rights statutes. A year later, a consent decree was put in place to address these issues. In January 2025, a sustainment plan was approved by the court to help ensure that changes would last over time.
With this development, seven police reform cases—including both court orders and out-of-court agreements—have been resolved by the Justice Department so far in 2025 across various jurisdictions.
