[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 48 (Thursday, March 17, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E272-E273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF RETIRED CHIEF WARREN GENE WOODFORK, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TROY A. CARTER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2022

  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
life of Warren Gene Woodfork, Sr.
  Warren Gene Woodfork, Sr., the first African American Superintendent 
of the New Orleans Police Department, entered into eternal rest on 
Wednesday, March 9, 2022. Chief Woodfork is the eldest of eight 
children born in Opelousas, Louisiana. He relocated to New Orleans with 
his family at a young age. Chief Woodfork is a graduate of Joseph S. 
Clark High School and attended Xavier University of Louisiana. Chief 
Woodfork was beyond proud

[[Page E273]]

to have family and friends following in his legacy of law and law 
enforcement, Ret. United States Postal Inspector, Samuel Huntley, Jr., 
New Orleans Police Captain, Michelle Woodfork and United States 
Magistrate, Judge Dana M. Douglas.
  Chief Woodfork was appointed in 1985 by the city's first Black mayor, 
Ernest ``Dutch'' Morial and served a second term under the next mayor, 
Sidney Barthelemy before retiring in 1991. He was previously employed 
as a postal clerk and also served his country in the United States Air 
Force before his 28 year career in law enforcement. Chief Woodfork 
became the first commander of the Felony Action Squad, which operated 
for 10 years beginning in 1972.
  He was also instrumental in making the Police Department's district 
captains accessible to neighborhood residents and business owners. 
Chief Woodfork, a product of the Calliope and Lafitte Housing 
developments, believed in community engagement. He saw the future of 
community policing by increasing the visibility of top-ranking officers 
in their district area and facilitating the regular and open exchange 
of information between the department with the people and businesses. 
This was a huge shift in tone for the department and was an innovative 
practice that brought a lot of success.
  A trailblazer in his own right, Chief Woodfork appointed the first 
female Deputy Chief of the New Orleans Police Department, Yvonne 
Bechet, and the first female district commander, Carol Hewitt, who was 
assigned to the Seventh District. He later appointed Commander Hewitt 
as the first female commander of the Narcotics Drug Abuse unit in NOPD 
history.
  Throughout his administration, Chief Woodfork also sought creative 
programs and concepts to target the juvenile crime problem and the 
growing level of violence by including programming in education, music 
and sports, as the three most important ingredients needed to lead 
young people away from crime.
  Chief Woodfork was a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the 
John F. Kennedy School of Government. He was a member of the Major 
Cities Chiefs Association (MCAA), Police Executive Research Forum 
(PERF), International Association of Chiefs of Police, Fraternal Order 
of Police (FOP), New Orleans Black Organization of Police (BOP) and the 
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement, (NOBLE).
  Chief Woodfork retired in 1991 to spend more time with his family. 
Prior to his retirement, he obtained funding for 200 new officers, 
along with the purchase of additional cars and equipment stating, 
``This is a chance for me to give my successor a better start than I 
had.''
  Though he may be gone, I know that Chief Woodfork is still watching 
over his beloved New Orleans community and beloved family.

                          ____________________