It is no secret that police officers abuse their power. It is their duty to protect and enforce the law, but they sometimes become the worst kind of criminals themselves. As is the case with New Orleans police officer Rodney Vicknair.

Rodney Vicknair’s behavior was no secret to his police department, the 55-year-old cop received many warnings for inappropriate actions during his long career. Though he faced multiple official warnings that if his behavior continued, he would be kicked off the force. No such action was ever taken against him, even after he was caught using the police database to prey on a female he found attractive, he merely received a suspension, and came back to his job days later. His other “punishments” were merely warning letters.

Rodney Vicknair was finally arrested in 2020 by his own police department in New Orleans. He was arrested for raping a 14-year-old child. Vicknair was charged with sexual battery, indecent behavior with a juvenile and malfeasance, for sexually assaulting the child while he was supposed to be investigating a sexual assault that she reported. 

Vicknair had fought against the case and denied guilt as recently as October. His sexual assault case was set to begin in court this December. On November 16, in a surprise turnaround, Rodney Vicknair admitted his guilt to the court and submitted an official plea of guilty.

Vicknair admitted to grooming and raping the young girl while taking her to the hospital to have a rape kit administered for a sexual assault she had just endured. Vicknair was supposed to be protecting her, instead he used his power to revictimize a traumatized child.

Vicknair had a history of discipline problems and if the New Orleans police department was doing a proper job of oversight, he should have been out of a job long before it was public knowledge that he was a child rapist.

According to a report from WDSU, Vicknair was disciplined four times in only six years. Below is a list of the infractions:

• He received a five-day suspension in 2010 for acting unprofessionally and keeping inaccurate records. NOPD’s internal investigation found he used police resources to look up a woman’s personal information and then failed to record an unnecessary stop of the woman in his activity log.
• Vicknair received a one-day suspension and driver training in July 2015 for violating policies related to a vehicle pursuit on March 28, 2014. The internal investigation found he drove 76 mph on Claiborne Avenue at 7 p.m., before driving against traffic for more than three blocks. The investigation did not determine whether Vicknair disregarded a supervisor’s order to end the chase.
• He received a three-day suspension in August 2015 for violating policies related to another vehicle pursuit on Feb. 6, 2014. The internal investigation found he drove against traffic during a car chase that a supervisor determined should not have happened.
• Vicknair received a letter of reprimand in August 2016 for acting unprofessionally when responding to the scene of a fatal overdose. The deceased man’s mother complained that Vicknair laughed at the scene. NOPD’s review of body-camera footage showed he told the overdose victim’s girlfriend, “I didn’t put the needle in his arm” and “I bet if I checked your name you would have warrants.”

In 2020, the victim contacted the NOPD to report a sexual assault and Vicknair was assigned to investigate her case. According to NOLA.com, Vicknair allegedly began sending text messages to the young teenager and going to her house during his personal time. He began grooming her, remarking how attractive she was and how she sexually aroused him, according to the report. His grooming then accelerated to him sexually assaulting the child. The NOPD Public Integrity Bureau conducted a preliminary investigation after receiving an anonymous tip that Vicknair was sexually assaulting the child and found enough evidence to finally put the child rapist behind bars.

Vicknair’s change of tune and admitting his guilt is more likely not that he has had a true change of heart, his admission is more likely motivated by self-interest. The maximum sentence Vicknair can receive for his crimes is life in prison. However, with the plea deal, he is looking at only 7 years in prison if the judge agrees.

Photo of Rodney Vicknair from St.Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office