A New Orleans police officer who was fired after crashing a police vehicle while intoxicated has been reinstated to his job following a Civil Service ruling. The decision comes nearly a year after the officer’s termination and more than two years after the crash that triggered the disciplinary case.
New Orleans Officer Reinstated After Drunk Crash Case
A Civil Service panel has ruled that New Orleans police officer Denzel Millon should get his job back, nearly a year after he was fired for crashing a marked police vehicle while intoxicated.
Civil Service Commissioners Andrew Monteverde and Ruth Davis determined that Millon’s termination was “arbitrary and capricious,” meaning the punishment was not justified based on the circumstances of the case.
The commissioners cited delays and inconsistencies in how the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) handled the investigation and discipline.
Crash Happened in 2022
The incident occurred on July 28, 2022, when Millon was working with the Special Operations Division’s Traffic Unit.
Authorities said Millon admitted he had been drinking before starting his shift.
While driving a marked police vehicle in the Warehouse District, he crashed into several parked cars.
Police later determined his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit.
He was arrested and charged with:
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated
- Driving on a roadway laned for traffic
In 2023, Millon pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
Civil Service Criticized Department’s Actions
The Civil Service Commission’s ruling focused heavily on the timeline of the disciplinary process.
According to the decision:
- The crash happened in August 2022
- Millon was not fired until April 2025
- The department returned him to full active duty during the investigation
Commissioners said this undermined the department’s later argument that Millon posed a danger.
The ruling stated that allowing him to return to duty with a firearm and a marked patrol vehicle showed the department did not consider him a serious risk at the time.
Termination Reduced to Demotion and Suspension
Instead of termination, the commission decided Millon should receive a less severe punishment.
The panel downgraded the discipline to:
- A demotion from senior police officer to police officer
- A suspension, which he already served in 2022
This means Millon will return to the police department but at a lower rank.
Dissenting Commissioner Disagreed
Civil Service Chairperson Brittney Richardson disagreed with the majority decision.
She argued that Millon’s actions placed both himself and the public in danger.
Richardson emphasized that driving drunk while on duty in a police vehicle is a serious offense that should warrant termination.
Department Leaders Acknowledge Internal Issues
During the hearing, NOPD Deputy Superintendent Hans Ganthier told commissioners he might have considered a lesser punishment if department policy allowed it.
The decision also noted that the department may not have provided enough support to Millon following a traumatic event earlier in his career.
Millon’s former partner, Officer Marcus McNeil, was shot and killed in October 2017 while investigating a suspicious situation near Cindy Place and the Interstate 10 Service Road.
Millon later stated publicly that McNeil had been his partner for two years.
The ruling suggested the department lacked a strong employee assistance program to help officers deal with trauma after such incidents.
Officer Had Otherwise Strong Record
Aside from the drunk driving case, the commission noted that Millon had an “exemplary record and reputation” during his career with the police department.
His attorney, Eric Hessler, did not respond to requests for comment following the decision.
