New Orleans Police Officer Reinstated After DUI Incident
New Orleans, LA — A New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officer has won his job back nearly a year after being fired for a DUI crash involving his marked unit in the Warehouse District.
Civil Service Commissioners Andrew Monteverde and Ruth Davis ruled that Officer Denzel Millon's termination was “arbitrary and capricious.” The decision highlighted the long duration between Millon's crash on July 28, 2022, the subsequent investigations, and his firing in April 2023.
During this period, Millon underwent rehabilitation and was returned to full duty, which, according to the ruling, called into question NOPD's argument regarding potential danger he posed. The commissioners downgraded his firing to a demotion from senior police officer to police officer, and he served a suspension in 2022.
Commission chairperson Brittney Richardson dissented, arguing that Millon's actions endangered himself and others. Deputy Superintendent Hans Ganthier noted that he would have considered a lesser penalty, indicating that the department lacked adequate support programs for officers.
Millon admitted to drinking before his shift and registered a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit. He was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in 2023.
Millon's attorney, Eric Hessler, did not respond to requests for comment. The decision acknowledged Millon's previously “exemplary record and reputation.”