NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Four high-ranking administrators have been ousted from Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson’s office, though one not immediately and none for reasons made clear Tuesday (March 28) by the sheriff.
Hutson, who campaigned on pledges that she would bring greater transparency to the office, issued an opaque two-paragraph statement about “organizational restructuring” on Tuesday, without mentioning by name any of the four officials departing.
But an attorney for Chief Financial Officer David Trautenberg confirmed to Fox 8 that Hutson terminated the employment of his client. Others being removed from the administration include assistant sheriff Pearlina Thomas, chief legal counsel Graham Bosworth and assistant sheriff Kristen Morales, sources told Fox 8.
Trautenberg’s attorney Kevin Vogeltanz said Tuesday night that his client is entitled to state whistleblower protection and was fired for launching an internal investigation into the use of downtown New Orleans hotel rooms by OPSO personnel during Carnival season.
“Dr. Trautenberg served as the chief financial officer and assistant sheriff of OPSO with integrity and distinction,” Vogeltanz said. “He was fired shortly after launching an internal, financial investigation into the use of hotel rooms paid for by OPSO over the Mardi Gras holiday, along with the propriety of a cash donation made by a third-party company to OPSO covering the costs of those hotel rooms.
“Dr. Trautenberg is a protected whistleblower...
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