Police Bureaus

The New Orleans Police Department is divided into six bureaus, including the: Office of the Superintendent; Compliance Bureau; Field Operations Bureau; Investigation and Support Bureau; Management Services Bureau; and Public Integrity Bureau.

New Orleans Police Department Bureau Organizational Chart

Office of the Superintendent

The Office of the Superintendent oversees every bureau and the following divisions:

  • Public Affairs Division
  • Technology Division

Read more about the Office of the Superintendent here.

Professional Standards and Accountability Bureau

The Professional Standards and Accountability Bureau (PSAB) is the Bureau tasked with among other things, facilitating the implementation of the Consent Decree through the Consent Decree Implementation Section. The Professional Standards and Accountability Bureau also incorporates several other sections with functions closely related to implementation of the Consent Decree.

  • Consent Decree Implementation Section  – The Consent Decree Implementation Section serves as the liaison between the City of New Orleans, including the Police Department, and the United States Department of Justice and the Office of the Consent Decree Monitor, coordinating compliance and implementation actions and facilitating the sharing of data, documents, materials and access among the various personnel and parties related to the Consent Decree.
  • Information Systems Section - The Information Systems Section analyzes crime patterns, produces statistical data for the Department’s weekly MAX meeting, oversees the use of body worn cameras, supports the use of in-car cameras, and provides installation and support of portable laptop computers installed in police vehicles.
  • Performance Standards Section - The Performance Standards Section ensures members of the department are operating in compliance with the department's rules, regulations, orders, and policies. In addition, the Performance Standards Section conducts employee drug testing, assures required court appearances, conducts random report reviews, and implements citizen satisfaction surveys.
  • Policy Standards Section - The Policy Standards Section develops and implements all department regulations, orders, policies and rules. In addition, the Policy Standards Section is responsible for disseminating the department’s annual hurricane operations manual, national law enforcement legal developments, and daily training bulletins.

Read more about the Professional Standards and Accountability Bureau here.

Field Operations Bureau

The Field Operations Bureau (FOB) conducts all criminal investigations, protects life and property, prepares incident reports, handles traffic assignments, provides proactive patrols and special assignments. It is made up of the following two divisions:

  • Field Operations Districts – composed of eight field districts that provide police services to their respective coverage areas. 
  • Special Operations Division - composed of specialized units including the Violent Offender Warrant Squad, Tactical Platoons 1&2, the Bomb Disposal Unit, Armory Unit, Search and Rescue/Marine Unit, Extradition Unit, K-9 Unit, Traffic Fatality Unit, and DWI Unit.
  • Electronics Section (Radio Shop) – a subordinate unit which installs and maintains the Police Department’s radio communications equipment.

The Field Operations Bureau also coordinates with the Orleans Parish Communications District (OPCD), a separate city entity. OPCD operates and maintains the Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD), answering calls for service and dispatching to field units via radio and mobile digital computers. OPCD operators manage and answer all 911 telephone calls in the City of New Orleans; all telephone calls to the police seven-digit non-emergency number and conferences other types of emergency calls. OPCD operates and maintains an Emergency Communications Center (Base-9) for use during special events and emergencies.

Read more about the Field Operations Bureau here.

Investigation and Support Bureau

The Investigation and Support Bureau (ISB) is responsible for the follow-up investigation of crimes committed against persons or property in the City of New Orleans, which require a degree of specialization or a centralized investigative approach. It is made up of the following three divisions:

  • Criminal Investigative Division - comprised of all centralized detectives in the New Orleans Police Department and is divided into five sections: the Homicide Section, Special Victims Section, Property Crimes Section, Juvenile Section and District Attorney’s Office Section.
  • Specialized Investigations Division - employs a multifaceted approach aimed at identifying repeat violent offenders and ultimately building cases viable for prosecution and long-term incarceration of violent offenders to reduce violent offenses in the City of New Orleans.
  • Crime Lab & Evidence Division - responsible for the collection, processing, testing, storage, and disposition of all evidence and property received by NOPD. The Division is divided into two sections: Crime Lab and Central Evidence and Property (CE&P).

Read more about the Investigation and Support Bureau here.

Management Services Bureau

The Management Services Bureau (MSB) is primarily responsible for providing administrative and support services for NOPD, ranging from budget preparation to the preservation and dissemination of criminal records, human resources, recruitment, education and training, grants management, and facility and fleet support services. The MSB is made up of the following divisions

  • Recruitment and Applicant Investigation Division - performs background checks, computerized stress analysis on all applicants for the position of police recruit
  • Records and Identification Bureau - is responsible for the tracking and maintenance of document files for police incidents, including crime and accident reports, arrest records, criminal histories, fingerprint files, and municipal and traffic affidavits. Additionally, this section processes incoming requests and subpoenas received from outside agencies pertaining to any records stored by the police department. The Records and Identification Bureau includes:
    1. Public Records Section is responsible for the collection, storage and retrieval of documents generated by all law enforcement agencies that utilize New Orleans Police item numbers.
    2. Criminal Records Section provides timely and professional support to NOPD and outside law enforcement agencies regarding criminal record inquiries, including fingerprint files and photographs which deals with all questions and issues concerning criminal records
  • Special Officers Section - issues and monitors Special Officer permits after ensuring private sector security employees have met State and City requirements

Read more about the Management Services Bureau here.

Public Integrity Bureau

The Public Integrity Bureau (PIB) promotes the credibility of, and public confidence in, New Orleans Police Officers by adopting preventive and pro-active measures to enforce the highest standards of professional police performance.

Read more about the Public Integrity Bureau here.