The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) has found itself battling an unexpected adversary: rats indulging in confiscated marijuana within their deteriorating headquarters.
Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick brought attention to the alarming situation during a recent address to the New Orleans City Council.
“The rats eating our marijuana, they’re all high,” Kirkpatrick disclosed to council members, shedding light on the station’s poor conditions.
According to NOPD officials, vermin infestation has permeated the offices housing the NOPD since 1968.
Kirkpatrick even described a scene where officers had to work not only with malfunctioning air-conditioning and broken elevators but also encounter rat droppings on their desks.
Nevertheless, the superintendent praised the officers attempting to clean the work place.
“The uncleanliness is off the charts,” Kirkpatrick said. “They deserve an award for trying to clean what is uncleanable.”
The department did not fail to take advantage of the nasty situation, designing $30-dollar t-shirts for the occasion that depict a rat with the caption: “They’re all high!”
Thankfully, city officials are now taking swift action to address the issue, with plans underway to relocate the police department to a new space.
A proposal to secure a 10-year lease for temporary accommodations in a downtown high-rise building has been put forth, signaling a commitment to providing a safer and more conducive work environment for NOPD personnel.
The building will be located on Poydras Street near Caesar’s Superdome.
The proposed lease, amounting to $7.6 million, aims to alleviate the pressing concerns surrounding the current headquarters’ condition.
Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montaño advocated for the cost-effectiveness of leasing a new space compared to the exorbitant expenses associated with refurbishing the existing building, estimated at around $30 million.
“I think it’s going to be somewhere between two to $300,000 to actually physically move them and then an additional amount of money to have working desks, chairs, networking, and items that would typically go into a move,” he explained.
“The big-ticket items like a brand new air conditioner, brand new elevator, things of that nature rack up millions of dollars.”
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Ron Harrison, global technical director for Orkin Pest Control, weighed in on the unprecedented behavior of the rodents.
While not entirely surprised by rats consuming marijuana due to their omnivorous nature, Harrison noted the potential psychoactive effects the rats may experience, drawing parallels to human reactions.
Council members have moved to advance the leasing proposal, slating the move for May 1st pending final approval.
