Reply #43: New Orleans police superintendent resigns

[liberal N proud]

Wednesday, September 28, 2005; Posted: 7:14 a.m. EDT (11:14 GMT)

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AP) -- Police Superintendent Eddie Compass resigned Tuesday after four turbulent weeks in which the police force was hit by desertions and disorganization in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath.

"I served this department for 26 years and have taken it through some of the toughest times of its history. Every man in a leadership position must know when it's time to hand over the reins," Compass said at a news conference. "I'll be going on in another direction that God has for me."

As the city slipped into anarchy during the first few days after Katrina, the 1,700-member police department itself suffered a crisis. Many officers deserted their posts, and some were accused of joining in the looting that broke out. Two officers Compass described as friends committed suicide.

Neither Compass nor Mayor Ray Nagin would say whether Compass was pressured to leave
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/28/chief.resigns.ap/index.html