A high-ranking police officer's suspension has been reinstated following allegations of misconduct. On July 10, 2024, the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) successfully appealed a decision by the Civil Service Commission that had significantly reduced the suspension of Sabrina Richardson from 119 days to just two days.
The case, filed by the NOPD in the City Civil Service Commission of Orleans under Case No. 9409, centers around accusations that Richardson falsely claimed work hours for both her official duties and a private security detail at the New Orleans Fairgrounds. The complaint against Richardson was initially brought to light on November 23, 2021, through an anonymous tip sent to the Public Integrity Bureau (PIB). The whistleblower alleged that Richardson was signing in for her private detail at the Fairgrounds but then leaving to go home instead of performing her security duties.
Richardson, who had worked private details for six years prior to the complaint, was found to have recorded overlapping work hours on seventeen occasions. These overlaps averaged about four hours each and were discovered through a comparison of her NOPD timesheets with those from her secondary employment managed by the Office of Police Secondary Employment (OPSE). Captain Nicholas Gernon led the investigation and further verified that Richardson’s vehicle was spotted by NOPD cameras away from her assigned detail locations during these overlapping hours.
In addition to these findings, Gernon concluded that Richardson violated other departmental policies by working more than the allowed number of hours per day and week on secondary details. Despite these violations being uncontested in this appeal, they painted a broader picture of misconduct.
During a pre-disciplinary hearing held on August 24, 2022, a panel of three Deputy Superintendents found Richardson guilty of all charges and assessed a penalty fitting within Class C of NOPD’s Penalty Matrix—resulting in a suspension of 119 days. However, after an evidentiary hearing spanning three days, the Civil Service Commission reduced this penalty dramatically on September 13, 2023. This decision prompted both parties to file separate appeals which were later consolidated.
The appellate court scrutinized two main observations made by the Commission: first, that Richardson’s penalty was harsher compared to similar offenders; second, that NOPD improperly relied on timekeeping records from ADP. The court disagreed with both points. It noted that comparing penalties among officers is not legally supported as grounds for reducing punishment and emphasized that those receiving lesser penalties had negotiated settlements admitting guilt—unlike Richardson who contested her charges.
Moreover, while Richardson argued against the validity of ADP records due to her executive administrative professional status exempting her from clocking in/out traditionally, this defense was deemed untenable. Gernon testified that most secondary employment time cards were handwritten by Richardson herself and she failed to correct any discrepancies.
Ultimately, given Richardson’s high-ranking position and responsibilities as head of PIB—a role requiring strict adherence to rules—the court found it reasonable for NOPD to expect higher standards from her. It ruled that reducing her suspension undermined departmental efficiency and accountability.
Thus, Chief Judge Terri F. Love along with Judges Roland L. Belsome and Joy Cossich Lobrano reversed the Commission's decision and reinstated Richardson’s original suspension period.