Assistant Chief Melanie Montroll has been promoted to Chief of the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA)'s Harbor Police Department (HPD). She is a 21-year veteran of the force and will serve as the department’s first woman Chief of Police.

As Chief of Police, Montroll’s top priorities will be recruitment and retention of the best qualified candidates who share in HPD’s mission to protect and serve the maritime and community interests within the Port’s three-parish jurisdiction of Jefferson, Orleans and St. Bernard Parish. She will also continue HPD’s commitment to diversity, community engagement and homeland security, as well as implementing the latest security technology and training.

Montroll has served as HPD’s Assistant Chief since 2017. She is a second-generation police officer, following in the footsteps of her father who also served with Port NOLA HPD. Over the course of her career, Montroll’s progression has included Captain of all Platoons, Commander of the Criminal Investigations and Internal Affairs Division, Director of Training, Academy Director and Commander of the Marine Division and day to day operations. Since her graduation from the Harbor Police Department Police Academy, she has been regularly recognized for her leadership skills and steadily progressed through the ranks, becoming Corporal in 2003, Sergeant in 2008 and Lieutenant in 2015.

Montroll is a member of the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police, International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Organizations of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and is a graduate of the FBI Leeda Leadership Trilogy program.

Congratulations!