New Orleans police evidence room overrun by rodents, officials say: "The rats are eating our marijuana"

2024-12-24 10:32:19 source: category:Back

Rats eat marijuana in New Orleans evidence room: "They're all high," police chief says
Rats eat marijuana in New Orleans evidence room: "They're all high," police chief says 00:38

The only creatures that seem to be enjoying the decaying New Orleans Police Department headquarters are the rats in the building's evidence room, officials said this week.

"The rats are eating our marijuana. They're all high," NOPD Chief Anne Kirkpatrick testified at a city Criminal Justice Committee meeting on Monday.

The dilapidation extends beyond the evidence room. According to CBS affiliate WWL-TV, the NOPD headquarters on Broad Street is so overrun by rats and roaches that staff come in to find rat droppings on their desks, Kirkpatrick said. 

The building's air conditioners are broken and its elevators don't work, WWL-TV reported Monday.

"When we say we value our employees, you can't say that, and at the same time, allow people to work in conditions that are not acceptable," Kirkpatrick told the committee. 

Council members at Monday's committee meeting voted to approve a lease for a new building for the NOPD, according to WWL. The new 10-year lease would cost the city $670,000 per month, which is still cheaper than the $30 million it would cost to fix the current headquarters, Gilbert Montano, the city's chief administrative officer, told WWL.

"Where you work, where you live, if it is not appropriate is going to always impact morale, so that has been a big factor," Kirpatrick told WWL following the meeting. 

If the full council signs off on the new lease, the city's police department will be rat-free by this summer. 

    In:
  • Rat
  • New Orleans
S. Dev

S. Dev is a news editor for CBSNews.com.

More:Back

Recommend

California man allegedly shot couple and set their bodies, Teslas on fire in desert

A Southern California man is accused of murdering a couple, setting their bodies and cars on fire in

FBI ends investigation of car wreck at Niagara Falls bridge, no indication of terrorism

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — The FBI has ended its investigation of a fiery car wreck that killed two

One of the last tickets to 1934 Masters Tournament to be auctioned, asking six figures

AUGUSTA, Georgia − It’s a sports ticket unlike any other. One of the last 1934 Masters Tournament ba