Anne Kirkpatrick starts as interim NOPD chief ahead of confirmation hearing

Friday is Michelle Woodfork's last day as interim superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department.

• She is stepping aside for Anne Kirkpatrick, who Mayor LaToya Cantrell nominated to be the next police chief.

Driving the news: Kirkpatrick, most recently the police chief in Oakland, California, will be the interim chief while going through the confirmation process with the City Council, Cantrell says.

• Woodfork was a finalist for the nomination and will stay with the force as a member of the leadership team, Kirkpatrick said at a press conference earlier this month.

The latest: Cantrell flew back from France early to swear in Kirkpatrick on Friday at City Hall.

• Cantrell originally was scheduled to return Sunday.

• Kirkpatrick is wearing an NOPD uniform in the photo released by the city.

State of play: Kirkpatrick's confirmation hearing is scheduled for Oct. 11 in City Council chambers with the Governmental Affairs Committee.

• Kirkpatrick will present her plans for recruitment, deployment, crime-fighting strategies, consent decree compliance and more, according to the schedule.
• Council members will ask questions, and public comments will be allowed after 1pm.

What's next: Committee members will then vote on whether to recommend her for a full council vote. If she's recommended, the full council will vote on Oct. 19.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Kirkpatrick has been sworn in as interim NOPD superintendent.