Louisiana's First Black Female Sheriff Sworn Into Office

New Orleans Parish, LA, sheriff Susan Hutson was sworn into office Monday. Hutson is the first African American female sheriff in the state's history and the first female sheriff of Orleans Parish.

"We are going to talk about history. When you break a glass ceiling you have to celebrate it. I was looking at how long Louisiana has been a state right. 200 plus years. All that time not one African American woman has been able to get to this position. 2022. It is time for all of those barriers to be broken now," Hutson said.

Hutson ousted long-time sheriff, Marlin Gusman for the job, winning the run-off election back in December. Prior to being sheriff, Hutson served as the independent police monitor in New Orleans for more than a decade, WDSU reports.

D.A. Jason Williams said he was looking forward to her help in fighting the city's uptick in violent crime.

"She is committed to putting security details in high crime neighborhoods. Amid all of these carjackings. To work with our chief of police, so there is more visibility from law enforcement," Williams said.

Hutson said criminal justice reform and auditing the jail are some of her first priorities.