Richard Pennington
Encyclopedia
Richard Pennington served as police chief of Atlanta, Georgia
from 2002 to 2009. From 1994 to 2002 he served as police chief of New Orleans, Louisiana
.
Pennington grew up in Gary, Indiana
. He began his career in law enforcement in 1968 as a police officer in Washington, D.C.
, where he was eventually promoted to Assistant Chief. In 1994, he was hired as police chief in New Orleans, and was credited with major improvements in what had been a poorly-regarded and corruption-ridden police department. In fact, conditions in the department were so bad before Pennington arrived, the U.S. Justice Department was threatening to move in & take over the city's law enforcement.
Pennington was a candidate in the New Orleans mayoral election, 2002
. Although he led in most pre-election polls, he finished second to Ray Nagin
in the first round of voting, and lost the runoff election to Nagin by a margin of 59% - 41%. Shortly thereafter, he resigned as New Orleans police chief. In July 2002, he was hired as the chief in Atlanta, until his resignation in December, 2009.
Pennington earned a bachelor's degree
in criminal justice from American University
and a master's degree
in counseling from the University of the District of Columbia
.
Pennington is currently a defendant in a lawsuit which alleges that he, along with other senior officers, engaged in a criminal conspiracy to retaliate against a police officer who testified on behalf of a defendant in a bond hearing in federal court. Reid v. City of Atlanta, et al., United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division. The case is pending on cross motions for summary judgment.
Pennington is also a defendant in the federal civil rights lawsuit of Calhoun v. Pennington, filed in November, 2009 on behalf of patrons of a gay bar in Atlanta who were illegally detained and searched during a warrantless police raid.http://atlantaeagleraid.com
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
from 2002 to 2009. From 1994 to 2002 he served as police chief of New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
Pennington grew up in Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
. He began his career in law enforcement in 1968 as a police officer in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where he was eventually promoted to Assistant Chief. In 1994, he was hired as police chief in New Orleans, and was credited with major improvements in what had been a poorly-regarded and corruption-ridden police department. In fact, conditions in the department were so bad before Pennington arrived, the U.S. Justice Department was threatening to move in & take over the city's law enforcement.
Pennington was a candidate in the New Orleans mayoral election, 2002
New Orleans mayoral election, 2002
The New Orleans mayoral election of 2002 was an election for Mayor of New Orleans; the primary round of voting was held on February 2, 2002, followed by a runoff on March 2. It resulted in the election of Ray Nagin as mayor.- Background :...
. Although he led in most pre-election polls, he finished second to Ray Nagin
Ray Nagin
Clarence Ray Nagin, Jr. is a former mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Nagin gained international note in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the New Orleans area....
in the first round of voting, and lost the runoff election to Nagin by a margin of 59% - 41%. Shortly thereafter, he resigned as New Orleans police chief. In July 2002, he was hired as the chief in Atlanta, until his resignation in December, 2009.
Pennington earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in criminal justice from American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
and a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in counseling from the University of the District of Columbia
University of the District of Columbia
The University of the District of Columbia is a historically black, public university located in Washington, D.C. UDC is one of only a few urban land-grant universities in the country and a member of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
.
Pennington is currently a defendant in a lawsuit which alleges that he, along with other senior officers, engaged in a criminal conspiracy to retaliate against a police officer who testified on behalf of a defendant in a bond hearing in federal court. Reid v. City of Atlanta, et al., United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division. The case is pending on cross motions for summary judgment.
Pennington is also a defendant in the federal civil rights lawsuit of Calhoun v. Pennington, filed in November, 2009 on behalf of patrons of a gay bar in Atlanta who were illegally detained and searched during a warrantless police raid.http://atlantaeagleraid.com