Alumnae

Bernardine Weaver-Kelly
The First African-American Female Captain
of the New Orleans Police Department!

Chief Promotes First African-American Woman to Captain

( New Orleans, LA) Mayor C. Ray Nagin is pleased to announce the promotion of Bernardine Weaver Kelly to the Civil Service grade of Captain within the New Orleans Police Department. With the promotion, Kelly becomes the first African American women to be promoted to the rank of Captain in NOPD’s history, which dates back to 1796.

"This is a great day in the City of New Orleans," said Mayor Nagin. "We have made it clear that the promotion process will be fairer and more equitable. When we do that, the truly qualified definitely rises to the top. I am proud of the work that Chief Compass has done to improve the department."

"When I became Chief, I said that people should not be promoted because of someone they know in the department. It should be made strictly on qualifications," said Superintendent Edwin Compass. "During my tenure, there have been more than 100 promotions. Nearly half have been African Americans and females. This is historic."

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Bernardine Weaver-Kelly, SMA Class of 1972 - a dedicated 29 year veteran, joined the New Orleans Police Department on October 21, 1974. Upon graduating from the Police Academy she was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division. On March 30, 1979 she was reassigned to the Research and Planning Division and then served in the Applicant Investigation Unit, Administrative Services Bureau, the Rape Squad, and the Major Offense Bureau Crime Against Persons Unit.

When she was promoted to the Civil Service grade of Sergeant on December 23, 1982 she first served in the Fourth District, then the Criminal Investigations Bureau Persons Unit, Records Division and the Seventh District.

On September 28, 1988, she was promoted to the Civil Service grade of Lieutenant and assigned as platoon commander in the Vieux Carre District, then in the Fifth District. On August 8, 1993 she became the assistant to the Deputy Superintendent of the Field Operations Bureau. At this time in addition to supervising the office staff, she coordinated the administrative review of departmental shooting investigations, tracked internal affairs investigations of field personnel and organized and managed special assignments.

In 1995, when the NOPD was experiencing a personnel crisis with veteran officers being lured to other law enforcement agencies, she was assigned command of the Applicant Investigation Unit to redesign the recruiting system. She, with the assistance of the City’s Department of Civil Service and the New Orleans Police Foundation, spearheaded an extensive recruiting drive. She supervised the screening and hiring of qualified applicants through October 2001 successfully hiring over 800 qualified commissioned Police Officers.

She was reassigned on October 9, 2001 to the Research & Planning Division for the purpose of establishing the Department’s first Victim/Witness Services Unit. She not only ensured that the Department was in compliance with the Federal/State laws and mandates regarding victims’/witnesses’ rights, but also worked directly with the Louisiana Crime Victim Reparation Board and other outside agencies to obtain services and funds.

On June 2, 2002, she was reassigned to the Eighth Police District, and in November she became the Integrity Control Officer, the position she now holds. She supervises the office staff, maintains the personnel records, and organizes special events such as New Year’s Eve/Sugar Bowl Classic, Mardi Gras, Essence Music Festival and Bayou Classic. She also attends community meetings and addresses all concerns including crime trends and quality of life issues.

On July 6, 2004, she was promoted to the Civil Service grade of Captain and assigned command of the Community Oriented Policing Squad (COPS).

Captain Kelly was honored with the departmental Medal of Achievement on December 18, 1997 for her outstanding efforts in the extremely successful recruiting campaign resulting in the hiring of officers needed to rebuild the strength of the New Orleans Police Department. She received a Medal for Lifesaving on February 2, 1993 for her exemplary performance in disarming and preventing a confused suicidal man from killing himself. While assigned to the Fifth District, she was recognized as part of a Unit Citation for Achievement on September 29, 1992 for continued outstanding performance and dedication to duty. She has also received numerous letters of appreciation from grateful citizens for her outstanding assistance throughout her career.

Captain Kelly graduated from Southern University Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in l994 and a Master of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice in May of 2002 with her area of concentration on Racial Profiling, Police Administration, Community Policing and Budgeting. She attended the FBI National Academy’s 194th Session in Quantico, VA in September, 1998 credited by the University of Virginia. She majored in Criminal Justice at Loyola University in 1975 and also in Criminal Justice at Tulane University from 1978 to 1981.

She attended a Sex Crimes Seminar at the Florida Institute for Law Enforcement in St. Petersburg, Fla. In 1977, and also seminars on Rape Crisis Investigation, Sex Crimes and Homicide and Sex Crimes Investigation at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA in 1975, 1977 and 1978. She is also a 1972 high school graduate from St. Mary’s Academy.

Since 1991, Captain Kelly has been certified by O’Leary, Brokaw and Associates, Inc. as a Police Promotional Assessor and has served in Birmingham, Alabama; Detroit, Michigan, St. Paul, Minnesota and Mobile, Alabama.

Captain Kelly has been a member of the Black Organization of Police (BOP) since its inception in 1976. She has also been a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) since 1988 and serves as the Treasurer and Recording Secretary for the New Orleans Chapter. She also was the coordinator when NOBLE held their 1992 National Conference in New Orleans.

Captain Kelly is married to Rev. Hall Lanis Kelly Jr., who is the pastor of the East Jerusalem Baptist Church, and they have one daughter, Lanis Theresa Kelly.