NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The federal judge overseeing the New Orleans Police Department's progress under the consent decree is hearing from the public about the next step, which is the sustainment period. Some, like Independent Police Monitor Stella Cziment, say the police department is not ready to take that next step. She says among the areas her office believes still need work are use of force, misconduct, sex crimes, domestic violence investigations and community engagements, like the police community advisory boards. New ‘innovative’ Bachelor program introduced at Southern University at New Orleans Ahead of the hearing, protesters gathered outside the federal courthouse in opposition of the two-year sustainment period, which would mark a near-end to the almost 12-year-old agreement. “We're here to say that we all have equal access to policing, whether that's making sure that our cases are actually seen and followed through with or making sure that our people aren't overpoliced disproportionately,” said Toni Jones, a chair for the New Orleans for Community Oversight of the Police.Those concerns have reached the Office of the Independent Police Monitor.“We're seeing that there's a lot of open questions about the way that they're considering racial bias in their work. There is a lot of dissatisfaction about clearance rates,” said Cziment. “There is a lot of concern about community engagement.” Riverfront streetcar line out of service due to vandalism, theft: New Orleans RTA Those who support the sustainment period say the NOPD has thoroughly demonstrated compliance, and that the city has spent more than enough money on the consent decree.“We're also the most reformed police department in the state,” said Claude Schlesinger, the attorney for the Fraternal Order of Police. “No other department in the state had a consent decree, so we've gone through tremendous transition, tremendous improvement in constitutional policing over the last 12 years.”Cziment asked the judge to consider partial sustainment or a four-year sustainment period.“The areas that still have community concern, the areas where there are still corrective action strategies in place, for those areas to remain under active federal oversight,” said Cziment. The next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 8. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Mississippi man killed by estranged wife outside courthouse: authorities Grubhub to pay $25M to settle claims of tricking customers and drivers 1 dead, 9 injured in Maryland shooting and fiery car crash: police Amite man convicted in 2021 Franklinton fatal shooting case Here's what made the cut in Congress’ 1,500-page government funding deal