A Gretna Police Department detective has been fired following her arrest for allegedly driving a police cruiser while intoxicated in New Orleans. The officer, identified as Detective Brittany Pujol, was taken into custody in August after New Orleans Police Department officers responded to reports of erratic driving near the French Quarter.
According to court records and statements from Gretna Police Deputy Chief Jason DiMarco, Pujol was off-duty but behind the wheel of a department-issued vehicle at the time of the incident. Following her arrest, Gretna PD launched an internal investigation that revealed multiple policy violations, ultimately leading to her termination.
🍷 A Troubling History
This isn’t Pujol’s first brush with controversy. Records show she was previously arrested in 2023 for domestic abuse with a child present, though those charges were later dropped by the district attorney. Gretna PD conducted an internal review of that case but found no criminal wrongdoing at the time.
Still, the department says it takes all allegations seriously. “We’re going to hold them accountable on our end for that mistake,” DiMarco said, emphasizing that officers must uphold the law—not break it.
🚨 Public Reaction and Advocacy
The incident has sparked outrage among community members and advocacy groups. Sunny Wall of Mothers Against Drunk Driving called the situation “Russian Roulette,” warning that impaired driving—especially by law enforcement—puts lives at risk. “You just hope and pray it’s not at the expense of injuring or killing another person out there on the road,” Wall said.
🏛️ Next Steps
The New Orleans Police Department is handling the criminal case, and Pujol could face charges related to driving while intoxicated and misuse of a government vehicle. As of now, she has not publicly commented on the allegations.
This case raises serious questions about accountability within law enforcement and the protocols surrounding off-duty conduct.