A New Orleans police officer has been taken off the streets after he was allegedly caught smoking illegal narcotics last month by his own police body-worn camera, according to Police Department sources and city records.
Maurice Bailey, who joined the force in late 2021 fresh out of the police academy, remains on “administrative reassignment” pending the outcome of an investigation by the NOPD’s Public Integrity Bureau, according to NOPD.
A supervisor’s review of Bailey's body-worn camera footage revealed the officer smoking the drugs, sources said.
The department declined to provide details of the Dec. 12 misconduct complaint against Bailey, which alleges that he used drugs or alcohol on duty, NOPD records show. Nor would the city release the body cam footage, claiming it’s legally exempt from disclosure while the PIB investigation continues.
In response to questions about the incident, the department said only that PIB “is investigating a complaint received recently concerning alleged improper activity by an NOPD officer.”
Bailey, a former standout running back at Archbishop Rummel High School, earned a bachelor's degree in political science at Southeastern Louisiana University in 2020 before joining the NOPD, his job application shows. He had been working in the NOPD’s 7th District, which covers New Orleans East.
Bailey, 27, has been the subject of several other write-ups over his short tenure on the force. Among them were three complaints alleging violations of NOPD policy on body cameras. A week before the latest allegation, he served a one-day suspension for failing to file a vehicle crash report on time, Civil Service Department records show.
Stella Cziment, the New Orleans Independent Police Monitor, said she was aware of the allegations of drug use and praised the NOPD’s response.
“I believe they are going to be looking critically at any other work he’s been associated with,” Cziment said, while declining to discuss details.
Cziment said it’s not uncommon for officers to face drunk-driving allegations, whether on or off duty. The NOPD “is always critically looking at whether or not officers are receiving enough support in how to manage the stress of the position, but also having to be on call or available if needed,” she said.
The department has invested in its Officer Assistance Program — which aims to help officers grappling with substance abuse — and often reviews whether supervisors should have picked up warning signs earlier.
“My understanding of this incident that I can share is it appears the system is working as it’s supposed to work,” she said. “It was caught by a supervisor. The supervisor was reviewing body cam and took the action that needed to be taken.”
While Cziment noted the stresses of the job and the need to support officers who struggle, she said allegations of illicit drug use on duty warrant termination if proven.
“If there is an officer determined to have used drugs while on duty, there is no room for that individual on this police department,” she said.
“It’s an awesome responsibility to be a police officer. Your credibility and your integrity has to be in a lot of ways unimpeachable," Cziment added. "Especially using illegal drugs: how are they acquiring those drugs? And are they putting themselves in a position to be potentially extorted, bribed or manipulated?”
Attempts to reach Bailey were not successful.
Gabriella Killett and Missy Wilkinson contributed to this story.
