VIDEO: NOPD officer caught smoking meth on patrol returned to duty after investigation

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NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - On Dec. 5, 2023, former NOPD Officer Maurice Bailey’s body-worn camera captured video as the officer drove through the NOPD’s Seventh District while smoking meth. Days later, an NOPD sergeant conducting a random review of body-worn camera footage spotted the video, which showed Bailey using a lighter to torch a white substance into a cloud inside a glass pipe.

Bailey was immediately ordered to submit to a drug screening. The results showed Bailey had methamphetamines in his system.

Skip Gallagher, a forensic scientist and NOPD watchdog, reviewed the NOPD Public Integrity Bureau’s (PIB) investigation into the incident after the video was flagged.

“The officer recorded himself on his own body camera. And that just is, I don’t know, that part’s a bit disturbing,” Gallagher said. “When you see this video, it’s pretty damning.”

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During that PIB investigation, Bailey admitted to using drugs on the clock, telling investigators, “I’ll be honest with you, I really can’t recall the date, but I’m guilty. It’s not alleged. I was an addict dealing with an addiction.” Bailey joined the NOPD in September 2022. His body-worn camera recorded him using drugs on the clock just over a year later. Bailey was administratively reassigned while the Public Integrity Bureau investigated the incident. With video evidence and a positive drug test following the incident, Bailey was placed on leave without pay for seven full pay periods. During that time, he still collected sick pay, holiday leave and benefits totaling $12,997.08. That included $5,000 in retention pay, which the NOPD says the city pays automatically to all employees who meet eligibility requirements.

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In the Public Integrity Bureau report, NOPD Sgt. Mary Sam wrote, “P.O. Bailey admitted to using ‘meth’ while working, which is a dangerous substance. He admitted to being in possession of and using a clear glass pipe (drug paraphernalia) to smoke the ‘meth,’ which meant that P.O. Bailey was under the influence while operating a city vehicle during his tour of duty. Being under the influence of a dangerous substance could have affected P.O. Bailey’s perception, performance, judgment, reactions and/or senses while working, which could have been a public safety hazard.”

However, the investigation concluded, “No tactical, policy, or education and training recommendations were needed by the officer.”

In April 2024, NOPD leadership signed off on the findings and in May, Bailey was back on patrol.

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Within weeks of returning to work, Bailey failed to show up for work. That prompted a formal disciplinary investigation, which noted Bailey’s actions were due to stress. He was given a letter of reprimand and continued to work.

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In June 2024, Bailey tested positive for methamphetamines a second time. He told a sergeant, “It was a relapse/slip-up that occurred Tuesday, May 28… I was having trouble going to work because of embarrassment… If I was [sic] made to do something I didn’t feel up to doing, I would make a bad decision.”

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During the initial internal investigation, Bailey admitted to superiors that the time he was caught smoking meth on his body-worn camera wasn’t the only time he used drugs on duty.

He explained he started using meth after he was involved in a “Signal 108,” which is the NOPD’s call signal for “officer needs assistance, life in danger.” Investigators say Bailey told them that in September 2023, he “was falling behind and thought meth was the drug that could help him keep up.”

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The New Orleans Police Department declined multiple requests for an on-camera interview

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