By Laura McKnight, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
on May 04, 2017 at 5:48 PM, updated May 05, 2017 at 6:13 PM
Richard Pennington, the former New Orleans police superintendent widely credited with reforming the department and reining in violent crime in the late 1990s, has died. He was 70.
He leaves behind his wife, Rene, and one son, Richard Pennington Jr., according to Pennington's brother, Jerome Pennington.
A wake for Pennington is scheduled for Thursday and his funeral is Friday in Atlanta, but details, including the location, have not been confirmed, Jerome Pennington said.
State Sen. Troy Carter, a former New Orleans City Council member, said one of Pennington's close family friends contacted him Thursday (May 4) with news of Pennington's passing. Carter was on the council during Pennington's tenure, and said Pennington brought a new sense of respect and guidance to a police department struggling under the weight of skyrocketing crime.
"He came in with a true presence -- kind of a gentle giant -- that brought a new level of respect and direction to the police department," Carter said. "His contributions to New Orleans will always be remembered."
Former Mayor Marc Morial, who appointed Pennington, agreed, saying Thursday that Pennington came across as mild-mannered, but "was tough as nails," particularly in disciplining officers.
"I think he is hands down, by far, without any comparison, the best police chief New Orleans has had," Morial said.
When he arrived in October 1994, Pennington inherited a department riddled with corruption and inefficiency, tasked with protecting a city plagued by murder.
New Orleans had the highest per capita murder rate in the country and the highest rate of civil rights complaints against officers. Within five or six years, Morial said, the murder rate had fallen dramatically and civil rights complaints "were negligible."
The city's murder total had surpassed 400 when Pennington became chief and the police department was "in shambles," agreed former NOPD Chief Ronal Serpas, who was a major in the department when Pennington was named its leader, and rose to second in command under Pennington.
"There were so many problems that needed to be confronted," Serpas said Thursday. "He recognized early on that the way to change the culture of the police department was in hiring and promoting and advancing the department through new generations.
The day Pennington was sworn in as New Orleans' police chief, an FBI agent pulled him aside and told the former Washington, D.C. deputy chief that the department was filled with corrupt and rogue officers. Many, the FBI told him, were involved in a widespread drug-trafficking ring and the targets of a federal investigation.
The agent ended the conversation by saying, "Welcome to New Orleans," according to news reports at the time.
"I thought, my Lord, what am I getting myself into?" Pennington said years later.
When he left office about eight years later, Pennington helmed a department hailed as one of the country's most improved and admired.
"He was amazing," Serpas said. "He was a stalwart as it related to integrity and accountability."
Less than a month into his new role, Pennington told New Orleans City Council members that he planned to make a number of "very controversial" changes within the next year to shape up a department "some observers have described as wracked by corruption, brutality complaints and poor morale," according to a Nov. 10, 1994 Times-Picayune article.
He implemented sweeping anti-corruption measures and reorganized the department. Under his leadership, nearly 350 unethical officers were indicted, fired or replaced. He was instrumental in a major drop in the murder rate, from a high of 424 in 1994 to 158 murders in 1999.
Pennington also implemented COMSTAT, a management system that uses statistics to uncover crime trends. It can be used for the rapid deployment of resources and relentless follow-up and investigations, former police superintendent Ronal Serpas said in a previous interview. This, more than the rooting out of corruption, played a significant role in the decrease in homicides, he said.
Morial said he and Pennington had a great partnership and even though Pennington wasn't from the city, he "fit New Orleans perfectly." Pennington and his wife became a part of the community, and that helped him become successful, Morial said.
Thursday, Mayor Mitch Landrieu issued a statement expressing his sorrow over the loss of the former chief.
"Chief Pennington was an exemplary public servant who dedicated his career to protecting neighborhoods throughout the country," Landrieu said in the statement. "Chief Pennington served the people of New Orleans with distinction. Our heart and prayers are with his family."
Pennington was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, but moved to Gary, Indiana, while in high school, according to Jerome Pennington, who lives in Gary.
He served in the U.S. Air Force and earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from American University in Washington, D.C., and then went on to earn a master's degree, his brother said in a phone interview Friday.
The eldest of four children, Richard Pennington from a young age showed a talent for guiding and uniting others.
"He was a born leader," Jerome Pennington said, describing his brother as charismatic, gifted and fearless in directing others. "He had very good people skills."
Richard Pennington could enter a room with several people, all with conflicting views, and have them come out as a unified force, Jerome Pennington said.
"He was just an amazing person," he said.
Prior to his arrival in New Orleans, Pennington served more than 25 years with the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department, capping his career there as assistant chief of the roughly 4,000-member department.
According to an Oct. 7, 1994 Times-Picayune article, Pennington was promoted to assistant chief of the Washington, D.C. department after the number of killings in his police district, once the deadliest in a city with one of the highest homicide rates in the country, dropped in 1992 from 137 to 108, the first drop in several years.
Then Mayor Marc Morial told The Times-Picayune that Pennington stood out among candidates for the job due to his breadth of experience. During his tenure on the Washington, D.C. force, Pennington worked in almost every section of the department, serving as a patrol officer, robbery detective, recruiter, budget director and commander of the homicide division.
Washington area media described him as a "bridge builder" with a penchant for community relations.
Pennington left New Orleans for Atlanta in 2002, following an unsuccessful mayoral bid against Ray Nagin. He suffered a stroke in May 2010, just months after he retired as chief of the Atlanta Police Department.
In an article posted Thursday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted that Pennington was credited with contributing to a reduction in Atlanta's crime, with the city dropping from the nation's third most-violent city in 2002 to the 18th during Pennington's tenure.
"He will be one of the most well-remembered leaders of the American policing profession for generations to come," Serpas said.
A former member of the track team, Pennington enjoyed playing basketball and football until his elder years, when he became more of a spectator, Jerome Pennington said. He also enjoyed fishing and reading.
Following his retirement, Richard Pennington worked as a consultant for the federal government, his brother said.
"He always worked," Jerome Pennington said. "He loved his job."
Update: This post has been updated with comments from Richard Pennington's brother, Richard Pennington.
Correction: An earlier version of this post included an incorrect age for Richard Pennington. He was 70.
************************************************************
Services
Funeral
Friday, May 12, 2017
10:30 AM
Cascade United Methodist Church
3144 Cascade Road SW.
Atlanta, Georgia 30311
Interment
Friday, May 12, 2017
2:30 PM
Georgia National Cemetery
1080 Veterans Cemetery Rd
Canton, Georgia 30114
Viewing
Thursday, May 11, 2017
12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Murray Brothers Funeral Home Cascade Chapel
1199 Utoy Springs Rd. SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30331
Wake
Thursday, May 11, 2017
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Murray Brothers Funeral Home Cascade Chapel
1199 Utoy Springs Rd. SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30331
on May 04, 2017 at 5:48 PM, updated May 05, 2017 at 6:13 PM
Richard Pennington, the former New Orleans police superintendent widely credited with reforming the department and reining in violent crime in the late 1990s, has died. He was 70.
He leaves behind his wife, Rene, and one son, Richard Pennington Jr., according to Pennington's brother, Jerome Pennington.
A wake for Pennington is scheduled for Thursday and his funeral is Friday in Atlanta, but details, including the location, have not been confirmed, Jerome Pennington said.
State Sen. Troy Carter, a former New Orleans City Council member, said one of Pennington's close family friends contacted him Thursday (May 4) with news of Pennington's passing. Carter was on the council during Pennington's tenure, and said Pennington brought a new sense of respect and guidance to a police department struggling under the weight of skyrocketing crime.
"He came in with a true presence -- kind of a gentle giant -- that brought a new level of respect and direction to the police department," Carter said. "His contributions to New Orleans will always be remembered."
Former Mayor Marc Morial, who appointed Pennington, agreed, saying Thursday that Pennington came across as mild-mannered, but "was tough as nails," particularly in disciplining officers.
"I think he is hands down, by far, without any comparison, the best police chief New Orleans has had," Morial said.
When he arrived in October 1994, Pennington inherited a department riddled with corruption and inefficiency, tasked with protecting a city plagued by murder.
New Orleans had the highest per capita murder rate in the country and the highest rate of civil rights complaints against officers. Within five or six years, Morial said, the murder rate had fallen dramatically and civil rights complaints "were negligible."
The city's murder total had surpassed 400 when Pennington became chief and the police department was "in shambles," agreed former NOPD Chief Ronal Serpas, who was a major in the department when Pennington was named its leader, and rose to second in command under Pennington.
"There were so many problems that needed to be confronted," Serpas said Thursday. "He recognized early on that the way to change the culture of the police department was in hiring and promoting and advancing the department through new generations.
The day Pennington was sworn in as New Orleans' police chief, an FBI agent pulled him aside and told the former Washington, D.C. deputy chief that the department was filled with corrupt and rogue officers. Many, the FBI told him, were involved in a widespread drug-trafficking ring and the targets of a federal investigation.
The agent ended the conversation by saying, "Welcome to New Orleans," according to news reports at the time.
"I thought, my Lord, what am I getting myself into?" Pennington said years later.
When he left office about eight years later, Pennington helmed a department hailed as one of the country's most improved and admired.
"He was amazing," Serpas said. "He was a stalwart as it related to integrity and accountability."
Less than a month into his new role, Pennington told New Orleans City Council members that he planned to make a number of "very controversial" changes within the next year to shape up a department "some observers have described as wracked by corruption, brutality complaints and poor morale," according to a Nov. 10, 1994 Times-Picayune article.
He implemented sweeping anti-corruption measures and reorganized the department. Under his leadership, nearly 350 unethical officers were indicted, fired or replaced. He was instrumental in a major drop in the murder rate, from a high of 424 in 1994 to 158 murders in 1999.
Pennington also implemented COMSTAT, a management system that uses statistics to uncover crime trends. It can be used for the rapid deployment of resources and relentless follow-up and investigations, former police superintendent Ronal Serpas said in a previous interview. This, more than the rooting out of corruption, played a significant role in the decrease in homicides, he said.
Morial said he and Pennington had a great partnership and even though Pennington wasn't from the city, he "fit New Orleans perfectly." Pennington and his wife became a part of the community, and that helped him become successful, Morial said.
Thursday, Mayor Mitch Landrieu issued a statement expressing his sorrow over the loss of the former chief.
"Chief Pennington was an exemplary public servant who dedicated his career to protecting neighborhoods throughout the country," Landrieu said in the statement. "Chief Pennington served the people of New Orleans with distinction. Our heart and prayers are with his family."
Pennington was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, but moved to Gary, Indiana, while in high school, according to Jerome Pennington, who lives in Gary.
He served in the U.S. Air Force and earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from American University in Washington, D.C., and then went on to earn a master's degree, his brother said in a phone interview Friday.
The eldest of four children, Richard Pennington from a young age showed a talent for guiding and uniting others.
"He was a born leader," Jerome Pennington said, describing his brother as charismatic, gifted and fearless in directing others. "He had very good people skills."
Richard Pennington could enter a room with several people, all with conflicting views, and have them come out as a unified force, Jerome Pennington said.
"He was just an amazing person," he said.
Prior to his arrival in New Orleans, Pennington served more than 25 years with the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department, capping his career there as assistant chief of the roughly 4,000-member department.
According to an Oct. 7, 1994 Times-Picayune article, Pennington was promoted to assistant chief of the Washington, D.C. department after the number of killings in his police district, once the deadliest in a city with one of the highest homicide rates in the country, dropped in 1992 from 137 to 108, the first drop in several years.
Then Mayor Marc Morial told The Times-Picayune that Pennington stood out among candidates for the job due to his breadth of experience. During his tenure on the Washington, D.C. force, Pennington worked in almost every section of the department, serving as a patrol officer, robbery detective, recruiter, budget director and commander of the homicide division.
Washington area media described him as a "bridge builder" with a penchant for community relations.
Pennington left New Orleans for Atlanta in 2002, following an unsuccessful mayoral bid against Ray Nagin. He suffered a stroke in May 2010, just months after he retired as chief of the Atlanta Police Department.
In an article posted Thursday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted that Pennington was credited with contributing to a reduction in Atlanta's crime, with the city dropping from the nation's third most-violent city in 2002 to the 18th during Pennington's tenure.
"He will be one of the most well-remembered leaders of the American policing profession for generations to come," Serpas said.
A former member of the track team, Pennington enjoyed playing basketball and football until his elder years, when he became more of a spectator, Jerome Pennington said. He also enjoyed fishing and reading.
Following his retirement, Richard Pennington worked as a consultant for the federal government, his brother said.
"He always worked," Jerome Pennington said. "He loved his job."
Update: This post has been updated with comments from Richard Pennington's brother, Richard Pennington.
Correction: An earlier version of this post included an incorrect age for Richard Pennington. He was 70.
************************************************************
Services
Funeral
Friday, May 12, 2017
10:30 AM
Cascade United Methodist Church
3144 Cascade Road SW.
Atlanta, Georgia 30311
Interment
Friday, May 12, 2017
2:30 PM
Georgia National Cemetery
1080 Veterans Cemetery Rd
Canton, Georgia 30114
Viewing
Thursday, May 11, 2017
12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Murray Brothers Funeral Home Cascade Chapel
1199 Utoy Springs Rd. SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30331
Wake
Thursday, May 11, 2017
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Murray Brothers Funeral Home Cascade Chapel
1199 Utoy Springs Rd. SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30331
By Laura McKnight, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
on May 04, 2017 at 5:48 PM, updated May 05, 2017 at 6:13 PM
Richard Pennington, the former New Orleans police superintendent widely credited with reforming the department and reining in violent crime in the late 1990s, has died. He was 70.
He leaves behind his wife, Rene, and one son, Richard Pennington Jr., according to Pennington's brother, Jerome Pennington.
A wake for Pennington is scheduled for Thursday and his funeral is Friday in Atlanta, but details, including the location, have not been confirmed, Jerome Pennington said.
State Sen. Troy Carter, a former New Orleans City Council member, said one of Pennington's close family friends contacted him Thursday (May 4) with news of Pennington's passing. Carter was on the council during Pennington's tenure, and said Pennington brought a new sense of respect and guidance to a police department struggling under the weight of skyrocketing crime.
"He came in with a true presence -- kind of a gentle giant -- that brought a new level of respect and direction to the police department," Carter said. "His contributions to New Orleans will always be remembered."
Former Mayor Marc Morial, who appointed Pennington, agreed, saying Thursday that Pennington came across as mild-mannered, but "was tough as nails," particularly in disciplining officers.
"I think he is hands down, by far, without any comparison, the best police chief New Orleans has had," Morial said.
When he arrived in October 1994, Pennington inherited a department riddled with corruption and inefficiency, tasked with protecting a city plagued by murder.
New Orleans had the highest per capita murder rate in the country and the highest rate of civil rights complaints against officers. Within five or six years, Morial said, the murder rate had fallen dramatically and civil rights complaints "were negligible."
The city's murder total had surpassed 400 when Pennington became chief and the police department was "in shambles," agreed former NOPD Chief Ronal Serpas, who was a major in the department when Pennington was named its leader, and rose to second in command under Pennington.
"There were so many problems that needed to be confronted," Serpas said Thursday. "He recognized early on that the way to change the culture of the police department was in hiring and promoting and advancing the department through new generations.
The day Pennington was sworn in as New Orleans' police chief, an FBI agent pulled him aside and told the former Washington, D.C. deputy chief that the department was filled with corrupt and rogue officers. Many, the FBI told him, were involved in a widespread drug-trafficking ring and the targets of a federal investigation.
The agent ended the conversation by saying, "Welcome to New Orleans," according to news reports at the time.
"I thought, my Lord, what am I getting myself into?" Pennington said years later.
When he left office about eight years later, Pennington helmed a department hailed as one of the country's most improved and admired.
"He was amazing," Serpas said. "He was a stalwart as it related to integrity and accountability."
Less than a month into his new role, Pennington told New Orleans City Council members that he planned to make a number of "very controversial" changes within the next year to shape up a department "some observers have described as wracked by corruption, brutality complaints and poor morale," according to a Nov. 10, 1994 Times-Picayune article.
He implemented sweeping anti-corruption measures and reorganized the department. Under his leadership, nearly 350 unethical officers were indicted, fired or replaced. He was instrumental in a major drop in the murder rate, from a high of 424 in 1994 to 158 murders in 1999.
Pennington also implemented COMSTAT, a management system that uses statistics to uncover crime trends. It can be used for the rapid deployment of resources and relentless follow-up and investigations, former police superintendent Ronal Serpas said in a previous interview. This, more than the rooting out of corruption, played a significant role in the decrease in homicides, he said.
Morial said he and Pennington had a great partnership and even though Pennington wasn't from the city, he "fit New Orleans perfectly." Pennington and his wife became a part of the community, and that helped him become successful, Morial said.
Thursday, Mayor Mitch Landrieu issued a statement expressing his sorrow over the loss of the former chief.
"Chief Pennington was an exemplary public servant who dedicated his career to protecting neighborhoods throughout the country," Landrieu said in the statement. "Chief Pennington served the people of New Orleans with distinction. Our heart and prayers are with his family."
Pennington was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, but moved to Gary, Indiana, while in high school, according to Jerome Pennington, who lives in Gary.
He served in the U.S. Air Force and earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from American University in Washington, D.C., and then went on to earn a master's degree, his brother said in a phone interview Friday.
The eldest of four children, Richard Pennington from a young age showed a talent for guiding and uniting others.
"He was a born leader," Jerome Pennington said, describing his brother as charismatic, gifted and fearless in directing others. "He had very good people skills."
Richard Pennington could enter a room with several people, all with conflicting views, and have them come out as a unified force, Jerome Pennington said.
"He was just an amazing person," he said.
Prior to his arrival in New Orleans, Pennington served more than 25 years with the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department, capping his career there as assistant chief of the roughly 4,000-member department.
According to an Oct. 7, 1994 Times-Picayune article, Pennington was promoted to assistant chief of the Washington, D.C. department after the number of killings in his police district, once the deadliest in a city with one of the highest homicide rates in the country, dropped in 1992 from 137 to 108, the first drop in several years.
Then Mayor Marc Morial told The Times-Picayune that Pennington stood out among candidates for the job due to his breadth of experience. During his tenure on the Washington, D.C. force, Pennington worked in almost every section of the department, serving as a patrol officer, robbery detective, recruiter, budget director and commander of the homicide division.
Washington area media described him as a "bridge builder" with a penchant for community relations.
Pennington left New Orleans for Atlanta in 2002, following an unsuccessful mayoral bid against Ray Nagin. He suffered a stroke in May 2010, just months after he retired as chief of the Atlanta Police Department.
In an article posted Thursday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted that Pennington was credited with contributing to a reduction in Atlanta's crime, with the city dropping from the nation's third most-violent city in 2002 to the 18th during Pennington's tenure.
"He will be one of the most well-remembered leaders of the American policing profession for generations to come," Serpas said.
A former member of the track team, Pennington enjoyed playing basketball and football until his elder years, when he became more of a spectator, Jerome Pennington said. He also enjoyed fishing and reading.
Following his retirement, Richard Pennington worked as a consultant for the federal government, his brother said.
"He always worked," Jerome Pennington said. "He loved his job."
Update: This post has been updated with comments from Richard Pennington's brother, Richard Pennington.
Correction: An earlier version of this post included an incorrect age for Richard Pennington. He was 70.
************************************************************
Services
Funeral
Friday, May 12, 2017
10:30 AM
Cascade United Methodist Church
3144 Cascade Road SW.
Atlanta, Georgia 30311
Interment
Friday, May 12, 2017
2:30 PM
Georgia National Cemetery
1080 Veterans Cemetery Rd
Canton, Georgia 30114
Viewing
Thursday, May 11, 2017
12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Murray Brothers Funeral Home Cascade Chapel
1199 Utoy Springs Rd. SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30331
Wake
Thursday, May 11, 2017
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Murray Brothers Funeral Home Cascade Chapel
1199 Utoy Springs Rd. SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30331
on May 04, 2017 at 5:48 PM, updated May 05, 2017 at 6:13 PM
Richard Pennington, the former New Orleans police superintendent widely credited with reforming the department and reining in violent crime in the late 1990s, has died. He was 70.
He leaves behind his wife, Rene, and one son, Richard Pennington Jr., according to Pennington's brother, Jerome Pennington.
A wake for Pennington is scheduled for Thursday and his funeral is Friday in Atlanta, but details, including the location, have not been confirmed, Jerome Pennington said.
State Sen. Troy Carter, a former New Orleans City Council member, said one of Pennington's close family friends contacted him Thursday (May 4) with news of Pennington's passing. Carter was on the council during Pennington's tenure, and said Pennington brought a new sense of respect and guidance to a police department struggling under the weight of skyrocketing crime.
"He came in with a true presence -- kind of a gentle giant -- that brought a new level of respect and direction to the police department," Carter said. "His contributions to New Orleans will always be remembered."
Former Mayor Marc Morial, who appointed Pennington, agreed, saying Thursday that Pennington came across as mild-mannered, but "was tough as nails," particularly in disciplining officers.
"I think he is hands down, by far, without any comparison, the best police chief New Orleans has had," Morial said.
When he arrived in October 1994, Pennington inherited a department riddled with corruption and inefficiency, tasked with protecting a city plagued by murder.
New Orleans had the highest per capita murder rate in the country and the highest rate of civil rights complaints against officers. Within five or six years, Morial said, the murder rate had fallen dramatically and civil rights complaints "were negligible."
The city's murder total had surpassed 400 when Pennington became chief and the police department was "in shambles," agreed former NOPD Chief Ronal Serpas, who was a major in the department when Pennington was named its leader, and rose to second in command under Pennington.
"There were so many problems that needed to be confronted," Serpas said Thursday. "He recognized early on that the way to change the culture of the police department was in hiring and promoting and advancing the department through new generations.
The day Pennington was sworn in as New Orleans' police chief, an FBI agent pulled him aside and told the former Washington, D.C. deputy chief that the department was filled with corrupt and rogue officers. Many, the FBI told him, were involved in a widespread drug-trafficking ring and the targets of a federal investigation.
The agent ended the conversation by saying, "Welcome to New Orleans," according to news reports at the time.
"I thought, my Lord, what am I getting myself into?" Pennington said years later.
When he left office about eight years later, Pennington helmed a department hailed as one of the country's most improved and admired.
"He was amazing," Serpas said. "He was a stalwart as it related to integrity and accountability."
Less than a month into his new role, Pennington told New Orleans City Council members that he planned to make a number of "very controversial" changes within the next year to shape up a department "some observers have described as wracked by corruption, brutality complaints and poor morale," according to a Nov. 10, 1994 Times-Picayune article.
He implemented sweeping anti-corruption measures and reorganized the department. Under his leadership, nearly 350 unethical officers were indicted, fired or replaced. He was instrumental in a major drop in the murder rate, from a high of 424 in 1994 to 158 murders in 1999.
Pennington also implemented COMSTAT, a management system that uses statistics to uncover crime trends. It can be used for the rapid deployment of resources and relentless follow-up and investigations, former police superintendent Ronal Serpas said in a previous interview. This, more than the rooting out of corruption, played a significant role in the decrease in homicides, he said.
Morial said he and Pennington had a great partnership and even though Pennington wasn't from the city, he "fit New Orleans perfectly." Pennington and his wife became a part of the community, and that helped him become successful, Morial said.
Thursday, Mayor Mitch Landrieu issued a statement expressing his sorrow over the loss of the former chief.
"Chief Pennington was an exemplary public servant who dedicated his career to protecting neighborhoods throughout the country," Landrieu said in the statement. "Chief Pennington served the people of New Orleans with distinction. Our heart and prayers are with his family."
Pennington was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, but moved to Gary, Indiana, while in high school, according to Jerome Pennington, who lives in Gary.
He served in the U.S. Air Force and earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from American University in Washington, D.C., and then went on to earn a master's degree, his brother said in a phone interview Friday.
The eldest of four children, Richard Pennington from a young age showed a talent for guiding and uniting others.
"He was a born leader," Jerome Pennington said, describing his brother as charismatic, gifted and fearless in directing others. "He had very good people skills."
Richard Pennington could enter a room with several people, all with conflicting views, and have them come out as a unified force, Jerome Pennington said.
"He was just an amazing person," he said.
Prior to his arrival in New Orleans, Pennington served more than 25 years with the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department, capping his career there as assistant chief of the roughly 4,000-member department.
According to an Oct. 7, 1994 Times-Picayune article, Pennington was promoted to assistant chief of the Washington, D.C. department after the number of killings in his police district, once the deadliest in a city with one of the highest homicide rates in the country, dropped in 1992 from 137 to 108, the first drop in several years.
Then Mayor Marc Morial told The Times-Picayune that Pennington stood out among candidates for the job due to his breadth of experience. During his tenure on the Washington, D.C. force, Pennington worked in almost every section of the department, serving as a patrol officer, robbery detective, recruiter, budget director and commander of the homicide division.
Washington area media described him as a "bridge builder" with a penchant for community relations.
Pennington left New Orleans for Atlanta in 2002, following an unsuccessful mayoral bid against Ray Nagin. He suffered a stroke in May 2010, just months after he retired as chief of the Atlanta Police Department.
In an article posted Thursday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted that Pennington was credited with contributing to a reduction in Atlanta's crime, with the city dropping from the nation's third most-violent city in 2002 to the 18th during Pennington's tenure.
"He will be one of the most well-remembered leaders of the American policing profession for generations to come," Serpas said.
A former member of the track team, Pennington enjoyed playing basketball and football until his elder years, when he became more of a spectator, Jerome Pennington said. He also enjoyed fishing and reading.
Following his retirement, Richard Pennington worked as a consultant for the federal government, his brother said.
"He always worked," Jerome Pennington said. "He loved his job."
Update: This post has been updated with comments from Richard Pennington's brother, Richard Pennington.
Correction: An earlier version of this post included an incorrect age for Richard Pennington. He was 70.
************************************************************
Services
Funeral
Friday, May 12, 2017
10:30 AM
Cascade United Methodist Church
3144 Cascade Road SW.
Atlanta, Georgia 30311
Interment
Friday, May 12, 2017
2:30 PM
Georgia National Cemetery
1080 Veterans Cemetery Rd
Canton, Georgia 30114
Viewing
Thursday, May 11, 2017
12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Murray Brothers Funeral Home Cascade Chapel
1199 Utoy Springs Rd. SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30331
Wake
Thursday, May 11, 2017
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Murray Brothers Funeral Home Cascade Chapel
1199 Utoy Springs Rd. SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30331
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