Keith Conley was elected the 5th Chief of Police in the City of Kenner on March 26, 2022, with 69% of the vote. He took office on July 1, 2022. Born on June 22, 1963, Chief Conley was raised in Metairie. He attended De La Salle High School before graduating from Loyola University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice. Chief Conley graduated from Loyola University School of Law with a Juris Doctorate in 2002 and passed the Louisiana State Bar in 2003.
Conley served as a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Deputy from May 1982 to March of 2003. During that time, Conley served in the Special Investigations, Vice Squad and Narcotics Divisions. He rose to sergeant during his 21-year career with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Shortly after his time with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Conley served as Kenner’s City Attorney, Clerk of Court and City Prosecutor. While working for the City of Kenner, he cracked down on adult bookstores, sped justice against drug offenders and protected thousands from abuse by developing a model domestic violence program. He ushered in transparency by putting detailed information online, and he eliminated legal outsourcing saving taxpayers millions of dollars.
Chief Conley was elected to the Kenner City Council and served as an At-Large member from July 2014 to January 2016. He became Jefferson Parish’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) in January of 2016 and served in that position until January 2019. As COO, Conley oversaw 54 departments and more than 3,500 employees. He helped manage a $650 million budget and over $2.2 billion in parish assets. In 2019, Keith was appointed by the Jefferson Parish Council to fulfill a vacancy as Jefferson Parish Councilman-at-Large after which Conley became a top-aide to Jefferson Parish Councilman-at-Large Ricky Templet. Keith resigned from his position as council aide to run for Chief of Police in Kenner, a seat being vacated by term-limited Chief of Police Mike Glaser.
Deputy Chief David Desforges began his career with the Kenner Police Department in 1994 where he was assigned to the Patrol Division. He was assigned to the Patrol Division until 2002 when he was selected to the Kenner Police Department’s Special Response Team.
Deputy Chief Desforges later served in the Crime Prevention Office before being promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2010. As a sergeant, Desforges returned to supervise the Special Response Team.
Desforges was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 2014 where he was the commander of the Special Missions Section. He oversaw the department’s Special Response Team, Bike Patrol Division, K-9 Unit, Crime Prevention Section, Rescue Division and Emergency Management Section. Desforges also served as a Public Information Officer and was responsible for the department’s social media.
Desforges was elected to the Kenner Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board, where he served as board member, vice-chairman and chairman for 13 years.
In April of 2022, Desforges was promoted to Deputy Chief where he oversees the Field Services Bureau, Criminal Investigations Bureau, Technology Services Unit, Internal Affairs Office and The Office Training and Development.
During his career, Deputy Chief Desforges served as S.W.A.T. Counter-Sniper, Tactical Team Leader and Assistant S.W.A.T. Team Commander. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy 265th Session and recipient of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Trilogy Award.
Captain William Sclafini began his career with the Kenner Police Deptartment in January 1994 as a jailer. In March of 1994 he attended the Harbor Police Academy.
After graduating, he was initially assigned to the Patrol Division. In 1996 Officer William Sclafini pulled double duty as both a patrolman and crime scene technician. In 1999, Officer Sclafini obtained Officer of The Year honors for his work as a crime scene technician and was assigned to the Crime Scene Division full time in 2002 where he remained until he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2007.
In 2007, Sergeant Sclafini was assigned to the Patrol Division, Squad 3, where he remained until he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2014. Lieutenant William Sclafini was then assigned as Commander of Squad 1, Patrol Division, until he was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2021.
Captain William Sclafini is currently assigned as the Investigative and Support Services commander.
Captain Marc Ortiz began his career with the Kenner Police Department in 1993 after graduating from the New Orleans Police Department Training Academy. Captain Ortiz was initially assigned to the patrol division.
In 1994, Captain Ortiz advanced to the Criminal Investigations Division where he served as a police detective until 1997, when he returned to the Patrol Division as a field training officer.
In 1998, Captain Ortiz accepted an appointment to the Internal Affairs Division where he served as a detective until 2003. In 2003, Captain Ortiz joined a multi-jurisdictional task force where he became certified as the Kenner Police Department’s first computer forensic examiner.
Captain Ortiz was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in October 2005 and shortly thereafter returned to the Patrol Division as a supervisor. During that assignment, in 2010, he was selected to attend the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. Upon graduation from the FBINA, Captain Ortiz continued to serve as a Patrol Division supervisor until 2013.
In 2013 Captain Ortiz was transferred to the Legal Affairs Section, where he remains currently assigned. Captain Ortiz was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in December 2014, and to the rank of Captain in in November 2019.
In addition to his current duties, Captain Ortiz is a P.O.S.T. certified instructor and teaches at the training academy.
Captain Michael Cunningham began his career with the Kenner Police Department in 1993 after graduating from the New Orleans Police Training Academy. His first assignment was to our patrol division as a Police Officer.
In 1996, Captain Cunningham advanced to the Criminal Investigations Division where he served as a person’s crime detective. While serving in this role as a person’s detective, he investigated crimes such as homicides, robberies and sexual assault.
In August 2007, Captain Cunningham was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and assigned to the Patrol Division as a patrol squad supervisor.
In July 2008, Captain Cunningham was assigned to the Narcotics Investigation Section as a supervisor. In July 2009, Captain Cunningham was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division as a squad supervisor.
In November 2010, Captain Cunningham was assigned as Commander of Internal Affairs and in December 2014 promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
In July 2017, Captain Cunningham was assigned as the Commander of Criminal Investigations Division and in March 2022 promoted to the rank of Captain.
