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Orleans Parish assistant sheriff third appeal denied over termination from OIG office

Morales is currently fighting her termination from the OIG
WDSU Digital Team
Orleans Parish assistant sheriff third appeal denied over termination from OIG office

Morales is currently fighting her termination from the OIG

AN UPDATE TO A WDSU INVESTIGATION AND ASSISTANT ORLEANS PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTY FIGHTING HER TERMINATION FROM HER PREVIOUS JOB AT THE NEW ORLEANS INSPECTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE. IS DENIED BY THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT TODAY. SO RECORDS SHOW THAT KRISTIN MORALES WAS TERMINATED FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE FOR GIVING AWAY CITY PROPERTY AND THEN FALSELY TELLING INVESTIGATORS SHE HAD PERMISSION TO DO SO. WDSU, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER AUBRY KILLION IS LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM WITH THE UPDATE AUBREY. HEY THERE, SELLERS. SO THIS RIGHT HERE IS THE THIRD TIME SHE HAD AN APPEAL TURNED DOWN THIS TIME. IT WAS BY THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT. SO TAKE A LOOK. RECORDS SHOW IN 2021, MORALES WAS TERMINATED FROM THE AG’S OFFICE FOR GIVING AWAY A CELL PHONE AND FALSELY TELLING INVESTIGATORS THAT SHE HAD PERMISSION TO DO SO. THE CITY’S CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND A FOURTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS AS THEY BOTH UPHELD THE TERMINATION. ACCORDING TO THE RECORDS FROM THE COMMISSION. HER LACK OF TRUTHFULNESS WAS POINTED OUT, POSSIBLY LEADING TO QUESTIONS OVER HER ABILITY TO TESTIFY IN ANY COURT HEARING. SHERIFF SUSAN HUDSON SAID THE ASSIST IN SHERIFF DOESN’T CONDUCT INVESTIGATION. WHEN WE FIRST REPORTED THAT STORY, HUDSON DEFEND ED MORALES AND SAYS SHE’S GOT THE CREDENTIALS TO DO THE JOB. TODAY, HER OFFICE SAYS WE DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO OFFER CONSIDERING THIS IS A PERSONAL MATTER THAT DOES NOT AFFECT ASSISTANT SHERIFF MORALES’S ROLE WITH THE AGENCY. THE OIG ISSUED THIS STATEMENT. IT DOES READ IN PART, QUOTE, ALL OF THESE DECISIONS ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE AND AFFIRMED THE TERMINATION FOR CAUSE OF KRISTIN MORALES AS AN INVESTIGATOR WITH THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL. I ALSO REACHED OUT TO MORALES AS ATTORNEY AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. GUYS, BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT. AUBREY, THANK YOU. MORALES HAS FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT ALLEGING WRONGFUL TERMINATION BY THE OIG. THAT SUIT IS ONGOING TO SEE ALVAREZ PREVIO
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Orleans Parish assistant sheriff third appeal denied over termination from OIG office

Morales is currently fighting her termination from the OIG
WDSU Digital Team
A third appeal by the Orleans Parish assistant sheriff in relation to her termination from the Office of the Inspector General was denied. Kristen Morales was terminated from the Investigator General's office for giving away a cell phone in 2021. Morales' appeal was turned over by the Louisiana Supreme Court. Records show that Morales falsely told investigators she had permission to give away the cell phone linked to her termination. The city Civil Service Commission and the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals both upheld Morales' termination. Records from the commission show that her alleged lack of truthfulness was pointed out and called to question her ability to testify in any court hearing. Sheriff Susan Hutson said the assistant sheriff does not conduct investigations. When WDSU first broke the story, Hutson defended Morales and said she has the right credentials to do the job. Hutson's office issued the following statement following Morales third appeal: "We don't have anything to offer considering this is a personal matter that does not affect assistant sheriff Morales' role with the agency."The Office of Inspector General released the following statement: "While the Office of Inspector General cannot comment on the substance of pending litigation, we refer you to the unanimous Civil Service Commission decision and the unanimous decision of the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal as well as the unanimous decision by the Louisiana Supreme Court which was issued today. All of these decisions are publicly-available and affirmed the termination for cause of Kristen Morales as an investigator with the Office of Inspector General."WDSU Investigates reached out to Morales' attorney and has not heard back.
NEW ORLEANS —

A third appeal by the Orleans Parish assistant sheriff in relation to her termination from the Office of the Inspector General was denied.

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Kristen Morales was terminated from the Investigator General's office for giving away a cell phone in 2021.

Morales' appeal was turned over by the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Records show that Morales falsely told investigators she had permission to give away the cell phone linked to her termination.

The city Civil Service Commission and the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals both upheld Morales' termination.

Records from the commission show that her alleged lack of truthfulness was pointed out and called to question her ability to testify in any court hearing.

Sheriff Susan Hutson said the assistant sheriff does not conduct investigations.

When WDSU first broke the story, Hutson defended Morales and said she has the right credentials to do the job.

Hutson's office issued the following statement following Morales third appeal:

"We don't have anything to offer considering this is a personal matter that does not affect assistant sheriff Morales' role with the agency."

The Office of Inspector General released the following statement:

"While the Office of Inspector General cannot comment on the substance of pending litigation, we refer you to the unanimous Civil Service Commission decision and the unanimous decision of the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal as well as the unanimous decision by the Louisiana Supreme Court which was issued today. All of these decisions are publicly-available and affirmed the termination for cause of Kristen Morales as an investigator with the Office of Inspector General."

WDSU Investigates reached out to Morales' attorney and has not heard back.