After three months of controversy that resulted in the resignation of Causeway Police Chief Roy Loicano and the firings and resignation of three of his officers, the Causeway Commission has acted quickly in hiring a new police chief.

Less than a month has passed since Loicano’s resignation over an April incident on the Causeway involving two officers and Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price. Now the commission has hired veteran police officer Nick Congemi as the new top cop for the Causeway.

Congemi was the Kenner police chief for 16 years and has a 32-year career in law enforcement. During his tenure as Kenner police chief, Congemi was known for his tough, no-nonsense attitude with criminals. For now, that is exactly what the Causeway Police Department needs.

The past three months have been demoralizing and embarrassing for a department that has done a stellar job over the years in keeping the Causeway safe for motorists.

Unfortunately, politics got in the way of the department’s job of enforcing the law when Price was stopped April 22 for driving without his headlights on and then admitting to officers he had been drinking. Instead of administering a sobriety test to the mayor, the officers called their superior. As a result, no sobriety test was administered, and Price was allowed to get a ride home.

In his acceptance of the job as Causeway police chief, Congemi told the press he would instruct his officers not to “worry about the politics, just do your job.”

That’s a smart way to start, Chief Congemi. No matter the status of a person, if they break the law, they should pay the consequences like everyone else. Another change is coming to the policy manual. Causeway General Manager Robert Lambert said a new rule will be added to the manual that states all Causeway police must test subjects for alcohol if they admit to drinking or are in an accident.

During the process, the police officer cannot call anyone until the testing is complete. The new regulation is appropriately called the “4-22” after the April 22 debacle with Price.

Let’s hope Congemi can change things around and bring order and credibility back to a department that has done such a good job over the years. For all the Northshore commuters who use the Causeway on a daily basis, gaining that trust back will make the 24-mile trip a little easier.