NEW ORLEANS, LA — Today, the New Orleans City Council adopted Resolution R-26-3, reaffirming the City’s commitment to issuing previously promised retention bonuses to eligible New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers and pledging to work collaboratively with the incoming-Mayoral administration to ensure payments are made as promptly and responsibly as possible.

The resolution acknowledges that the retention bonuses were authorized under the current mayoral administration but that the funds originally designated for those payments have been depleted, creating a funding gap. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor has confirmed that the City’s Revenue Anticipation Note (RAN) payroll loan may be used to cover the unfunded bonus obligations, while also advising that a more comprehensive review is required to ensure there are no errors and omissions, with a timeline of this month for approval.

“These bonuses matter,” said Mayor-Elect Helena Moreno. “Our officers were promised this incentive, and my administration is committed to honoring that promise. At the same time, we have a responsibility to ensure every payment is accurate, lawful, and transparent. We will move forward with urgency, but we will do it the right way by working closely with the City Council, the NOPD, and the Legislative Auditor to get these bonuses to the officers who have earned them.”

"Promises made should be promises kept. The passage of today's resolution marks a turning point in a pattern of broken promises and mindless games. The Moreno Administration, in partnership with the City Council and the Legislative Auditor, is committed to solving problems and fulfilling commitments rather than kicking the can down the road,” said Council President JP Morrell.

"We must ensure we are moving forward legally, but carefully," said incoming Chief Administrative Officer Joe Giarrusso. "I am committed to working with Mayor-Elect Moreno on the correct process."

“As the incoming Budget Chair, my top priority is ensuring our city is spending responsibly while also meeting the needs of our constituents. New Orleans is seeing continued improvements in public safety, with crime trending downward across our city. That progress is real, it matters, and it deserves to be recognized. Keeping our promises to the officers who show up every day is part of how we sustain that momentum and keep New Orleans moving forward,” said District B Councilmember Lesli Harris.

Our officers deserve every bit of support we can provide, and these bonuses are a key part of that.  We're committed to getting this right—quickly and transparently—for the sake of our community's safety,” said District C Councilmember Freddie King, III.

“It is critically important that we deliver on the commitments made to the members of the New Orleans Police Department whose leadership and service have been recognized. I am well aware that many officers were encouraged by these bonuses and, in some cases, made important professional decisions based on that commitment,” said District D Councilmember Eugene J. Green. “I commend Mayor-Elect Helena Moreno for recognizing the positive impact this will have on both retention and recruitment and for taking steps to ensure that the promises made are the promises kept. The direction of public safety in our city depends on maintaining a strong and trusting relationship with our law enforcement community—especially the NOPD. Moving forward with these bonus payments is not just the right thing to do for our officers; it is a decision to promote enhanced public safety for the entire city.”

“This resolution is about keeping our word.  Many officers made career decisions based on commitments that were made to them, and while we must ensure correctness and transparency, we can’t allow that trust to be undermined.  We owe our officers both follow-through and accountability,” said District E Councilmember Oliver Thomas, Jr. 

The resolution underscores the importance of retention bonuses to officer morale, recruitment, and the overall operational stability of the NOPD. It also commits the City Council to partnering with Mayor-Elect Moreno’s incoming administration, the NOPD, and the Louisiana Legislative Auditor to complete a comprehensive review of employment records and bonus eligibility requirements before finalizing payments.