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Post by zoe10850 on Jun 2, 2006 11:39:41 GMT -6
Did anyone watch the bs on the news when acting chief Jim Craft was calling the wiretap investigation a "little" bump on the road, and what a fine professional police department we have in Lafayette. He went on to say how other agencies look up to LPD and try and emulate us. Is that why they are 40 people "short" even after we got them a large raise two years ago ?
I was hoping (stupid, I know) that the reporter would say"And which departments might that be Mr Craft"? Mamou ? Port Barre ? Krotz Springs ?
And by the way, how about Lt Benedetto (?) and his improper use of position? And how about our little steroid group? And how is it that the keystone cops cannot even wiretap their own offices w/o being caught? Craft had the nerve to compare LPD with NOPD and the corruption that existed there. Was Denedetto the only one; I doubt that seriously. He was just the only one caught. And what was the punishment? Six months of PAID LEAVE whilst the investigation was conducted, and Mr D Stanley refused to release the findings.
I really think it is past time to look at getting on with consolidation and letting the Sheriff assume the city police function. Money would be saved by removing the layers of bureaucracy, supervisors, dispatchers, cars, insurance, lawsuits, civil service etc., etc.
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Post by TBEAR on Jun 3, 2006 6:50:52 GMT -6
Thats what I thought a "bump in the road". Hardly when the crime involves the chief. He is supposed to set the example for all of his officers to follow. How do you think that looks to them that their leader was involved in this incident. How do you respect a leader like that.
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Post by zoe10850 on Jun 5, 2006 8:33:03 GMT -6
5:00 AM, Sunday morning, sirens blaring as LPD procees down K Saloom Road. Does Sunday morning traffic at this time warrant this ? Where do they hire these guys, and who exactly do they think they work for ? I can assure you that if I made that kind of racket for no relevant reason by my employers house, I would not be employed for long.
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Post by str8up50 on Jun 5, 2006 18:49:15 GMT -6
Whine, whine, whine...how quick we are to criticize those that protect us. Sirens at 5 a.m., perhaps it the policy that when responding to a major distress call they are required to utilize sirens. I see police cars with lights/sirens on, and other vehicles failing to move out of the way. Instead of yielding to the right, like you are supposed too, they either move to the left or just stop. Like every job, you have bad apples. However when it involves the police it appears to dominate the news. I know when I needed the police, they showed up very quickly and took control of the situation. And the one time I needed them, it was for a violent crime not no minor fender bender. So instead of complaining about our public servants, why don't you do something about it. Crime is on the rise, and we have a good group of officers that are trying to do the best they can. I can attest to that, as I rode several times with officers at night. You have no idea what really goes on in this city, until you ride with one of the officers. Until then, I encourage you to bad mouth the department. And when you finally need them, maybe you will think about your past posts.
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Post by zoe10850 on Jun 6, 2006 1:21:53 GMT -6
I fully support law enforcement, and suspect that I know more about police procedure than most. It is not proper procedure to use sirens unless there is traffic to move, especially at 5:00 am. That is yet another example of poor judgement, a "bump in the road " you might say, and most likely, a young inexperienced officer. I was not talking about driving through 4:00 pm traffic, and the idiots who do not allow officer to proceed, an entirely different situation.
And it is their job to show up. You would have a valid complaint if they did not show, or if they failed to control the situation when they did show. Crime is on the rise, partially because we do not properly utilize our police resources. If we spent a little less time on the "100 days of summer" to nab speeders on the interstate (safest roads) and a little more time showing a presence in high crime areas, or bad road areas (Hwy 90 New Iberia to Lafayette)a lot more crime prevention or traffic safety would be the result. Simply parking on the side of the road in Truman, Moss, Azalea Park would discourage a lot. Instead, we focus on raising revenue through issuing citations to fund our bloated court system. If you look at any police agency, particularly a civil service agency, you will note there are many more unmarked units than marked. Good example; Louisiana State Police. Approximately 1100 officers, only 350 perform the patrol function. that is their numbers, not mine. In addition, a quick review of the state police budget would reveal over $150 million dollars to operate. Look at city budget, and review the number of authorized patrol positions versus overall department. I can well tell you that those positions are not filled (short shifts), and the guys who do work patrol work their butts off. I do however reserve the right to criticize when they fail to use common sense.
If bad apples dominate the news, it is because police, like politicians, hold a position of public trust, and should in fact be held to a higher standard, and when that trust is violated or abused, outrage is a proper reaction. Bill Jefferson claiming exemption from police because he is a congressman is yet another example of violated trust and abuse of position.
Please be certain that I do have a very good idea what goes on in this city and not just from a few "ridealongs". I do not consider that I am "bad mouthing" the police dept when I comment on news stories reported in the paper, and I have no regrets about any post that I have made regarding LPD, "Consolidated Govt", or any elected official. In addition, I have a lot of respect for most officers with LPD and LPSO, as well as LSP. I hate the ones who make the good ones look incompetent, crooked, lazy, or stupid; guilt by association, and I will always criticize them.
An officer who abuses his position is one who encourages corruption and drives the good officers away. How would you like to serve in a department where the Chief officer wiretaps his own employees to see who is "loyal" to him, and when caught, does not even have the good charactor to resign? Do you think it is okay for ranking (and formerly public information officer) personnel to declare on police letterhead that they can perform private services for a fee while on public time ? Do you think it is okay for those who enforce drug laws to be abusing drugs ? I think someone has their head in the sand.
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Post by coolboy on Jun 6, 2006 11:25:53 GMT -6
Well said, Zoe. As a taxpayer, everyone has a right to their opinion. I've seen police officers run red lights and stop signs for no reason, then ticket mothers with a car full of children for doing the same. Wrong is wrong.
I do have to humbly disagree with you regarding the "100 days of summer" program. People do speed excessively on the roads in Lafayette. I was on I-10 the other day doing 70 mph in the slow lane and you'd swear I was doing 35 mph the way cars were passing me. This is too dangerous, especially with kids in the car.
Regarding crime, more does need to be done. Unfortunately, we would need roving patrols every night in certain neighborhoods. Two blocks from my home, there's hookers, drug dealers, and addicts. I would like to see a more active police force in my area. Perhaps I can notify my city councilman? Oh wait, it's Louis Benjamin. Nevermind.
Speaking of "Doop Us" Benjamin and the city council, does anyone know which Lafayette district has the highest crime rate? The councilman who has that honor should be doing whatever he can to help curb the crime.
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Post by abbd on Jun 6, 2006 11:31:58 GMT -6
I was just about to consult the "charter" to see if a "lights and siren" policy might be spelled out in there, but alas I realized that our elected leaders(leaders "hahahaha) violate the "charter" so often, what good would following the law do. This isn't a knock on anyone, just an observation of how our elected reps feel about our "laws". Tonight when someone from the admin or one of our duncilmen use the excuse that something cannot be done because it violates "the charter" remember "the charter" forbids any ILOT money to be spent outside the city limits of Lafayette.
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Post by str8up50 on Jun 6, 2006 16:19:49 GMT -6
I completely agree with your post ZOE. However the reason crime is on the rise, is because the criminals know they will not receive any harsh penalty in the 15th JDA. If you look at the blotter from time to time, you will see that the same people are constantly being arrested for the same thing. A prime example is the State Police Drug Unit. They always seem to be "hanging around" the Lafayette/St. Martin Parish line. Perhaps it due to St. Martin Parish's prosecution rate. Perhaps the D.A. allows the LSP to enact on asset forfeiture and vehicle seizures without red tape. The Sheriff and City agencies can attack crime at all angles, however if they do not have the support of the judicial system it is a loosing battle. I too agree that the recent headlines have diminished the LPD badge. I feel that if the leadership at the top level is poor and questionable, then it may roll down hill to the individual officer. It will be very interesting to see how the "bugging" incident unfolds. But what do we or the consolidated govt. do about the situation? Kind of hard to say, considering that the LCG has been violating state law regarding fire/police pay. How can a district judge, the court of appeals rule in favor of the fire/police, but the council continues to waste tax payer money on drawing it out. To me, if you fail to adhere to a court's ruling then you show no respect for the law. So you wonder why there is so much drama at LPD, well look no further than city hall.
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Post by zoe10850 on Jun 7, 2006 0:08:52 GMT -6
I feel compelled to respond to posts regarding LPD (and by the way str8up50, you should join our little group, it is easy). The lights and siren policy would be located in standard operating procedure manuals of LPSO or LPD, not charter.
With regard to the 15th JDA, you will notice that what is true here is true elsewhere; 95% of all crime is committed by the same small group (segment) of the population (less than 5% of population). Virtually all "criminals" are recidivists. The only solution is to lock them up forever, however, taxpayers do not want to foot the bill, and unlike ancient Rome, we no longer have gladiators, so we have no good method to rid society of these people.
The state police drug unit operates in St Martin Parish because the court system is more favorable than Lafayette. The DA in Lafayette could use the money as well as the DA in St Martin (DA gets 40% of proceeds), but apparently does not feel that he has competent prosecuters, or that their is no justification for the stops, or perhaps something more nefarious. The truth is, Acadia Parish Sheriff has an interdiction program, and they are in the same JDA (15th).
Why has the Lafayette Parish Sheriff never set up an interdiction (Breaux or Neustrom)? We all have heard rumors as to why, but no facts.
Lafayette law enforcement has support from the judicial community such as it is, but I for one do not think that even 1/2 of the judges are qualified to sit on the bench. They are not however,as corrupt as some of the Orleans judges who "bond out" rapists, murderers, and armed robbers on their own recognizance. Criminals have to learn that society will not tolerate their behavior, but until we, as taxpayers, make the state do its job by expanding jail capacity, there is no option left. Bear in mind that Angola, the state pen is 30% smaller than Orleans Parish Prison. What is wrong with that picture ?
As a comment to the ruling regarding supplemental pay; In Louisiana, there is no way to force a unit of government to actually pay a judgement. They can drag the situation out for a long time. The govt has to appropriate the money to pay whether it is the state,city, sheriff, whatever. Thus, the move to settle. The state police sued the state about 25 yrs ago over an overtime issue. The state refused to pay, but ultimately settles for about 10% of the award. I think it is shameful for the city and the Marshall to not pay these people who have served us, the taxpayers. But then, that is the "beauty" of a bureaucracy; you cannot get to anyone who is in charge, and can make a decision. The mayor can't. The chief of police can't. The council can't. The classic art of "Catch 22", and my reason to despise civil service systems and teacher tenure systems, which, like labor unions, may have outlived their usefulness.
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Post by zoe10850 on Jun 7, 2006 0:35:18 GMT -6
And by the way coolboy, I realize that "excessive" speed is a danger, but the truth is tickets are a way to raise money for government without taxes, sorta like a payment in lieu. My son got a ticket for doing 36 in a 35 in Welsh (no he was not rude to the officer). Tell me he was a danger or threat. $100.00 please, and Ya'll do come back. Why do you think they want to use camera's to give tickets, certainly not for safety.
Even worse, how many times have you been blown off the road by a trooper only to see him parked on the side a few miles ahead. I would like to ask Trooper Willie Williams why his guys abuse the traffic laws; no seatbelts, tailgate, speed, blow lights, roll through stops but ticket the citizens for doing the same. There is a law that allows the state police to disobey traffic laws while on duty - why do you suppose they needed to pass that ?
And every traffic study (not by MADD or Safety Council - tainted studies) I have seen shows that if no speed is posted, 80% of all drivers will drive within the same approximate speed range. In other words, the conditions dictate. The death toll and accident toll is no worse in Nevada or Montana where there are no speed limits. It is the people going too fast, or too slow that cause the problems, not the 80%(who are likely exceeding posted limit)
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Post by ronnief on Jun 12, 2006 17:01:18 GMT -6
I would like to see us emulate New Iberia, and merge the LPD into the Sheriff's Office. Unlike the chief of police, you would have a say in who runs your police force. If our appointed chiefs are so great one might wonder why they are never elected to a position by the people when they leave municipal service. I for one would welcome a chance to vote on the quality of service every 4 years. I may not like the outcome, but at least I would have that choice. Better yet, get rid of all of the small municipal departments in the parish. Let's face it, the quality of service cannot be there (insufficient budgets), and they function largely as revenue collectors for the cities. Let the communities pay the sheriff, and he can maintain staff, consistent training and more uniform service.
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Post by zoe10850 on Jun 13, 2006 23:31:49 GMT -6
Fat chance of that happening. It is too logical. Why would our elected officials want to consolidate positions when jobs are their political strength ?
You would think such a fine business group as the Chamber of Commerce would be on that like white on rice. After all, the Chamber was a strong supporter of "consolidated government" and all the money we were to save coupled with efficiency. Well, am sure the savings and efficiency in government is coming one day.
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Post by coolboy on Jun 15, 2006 2:22:53 GMT -6
Yeah, we need to consolidate the city police and sheriff's departments. Actually, we should consolidate as much as we can IMO.
Did anyone read the editorial a few weeks back where someone wrote the Advertiser saying that northside should split from the southside and become its own little parish like East and West Baton Rouge parishes. The worst statement in all of this was that he recommended Chris Williams to be the mayor! I almost fell out of my chair!
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Post by coolcajun on Jun 15, 2006 20:59:31 GMT -6
d**n, I'm in total shock as of today's decision. I can't believe they indited 4 out of 5. After only getting my facts from the local tabloids, I am really surprised. I would have never guessed the district attorney would have got the inditment, thought it was all a smoke screen. Just another black eye for the good and honest officers who try to do the best jobs they can without breaking the laws the try to enforce.
I guess Joey and Dee will have to look for another Chief. I hope they do not go with in this department again. They need some real change at the TOP to bring this department back to the way it once was.
This another south Louisiana Police Chief bites the dust.......
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Post by zoe10850 on Jun 16, 2006 0:42:48 GMT -6
And the civil service board orders an officer reinstated because he was busted on hearsay information, never mindthat the info was accurate. Some of the best police work is based on hearsay. What the heck does the civil service board think a paid informant is ? Duh!
Ho, ho, ho, civil service must go.
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Post by zoe10850 on Jun 17, 2006 1:29:21 GMT -6
And still the Chief does not resign (paid leave my a--). No class, no respect for his "institution".How did this guy last for 30 years in the department and not know such basics as no wiretap w/o court order?
His defense according to his attorney:Consolidated govt bungled the investigation". get real, consolidated govt bungles everything ! I know one is innocent until proven guilty, however, when one has a secure office, and only 2 people have keys, a rocket scientist is not required to determine where the wire came from when one of the 2 people is wiretapped.
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Post by abbd on Jun 17, 2006 5:03:05 GMT -6
Hmmm "bungled investigation"... wonder what he meant by that? Are there a few things we might never know about this case? Hmmmm could get very interesting... Maybe the chief has a card or two up his sleeve that he thought he might not have to play..... too bad court tv isn't going to cover this trial because the local media won't.
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Post by abbd on Jun 18, 2006 9:01:23 GMT -6
I saw joey said maybe he needed to pay more attention to the police department. Yep that would be nice Mr. Durel, kinda late though. Wasn't this "chief" joey's hand picked choice? Weren't there some allowances made and some rules changed to allow this "chief" to be appointed? Not sure but I think so. Oh what a tangled web we weave. Joey do what your job demands that you do, not the things you think are fun and interesting. Do the job you were elected to do!(like protecting the citizens and resolving traffic issues etc).
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Post by johnny on Jun 18, 2006 14:30:55 GMT -6
So Monday we will learn the Chief's fate, as we will learn whether City Hall wil terminate, reprimand, suspend, or demote the Chief. Does anyone know the answer to this question: If the Chief is given a suspension or demotion, does he stay on paid leave until the criminal trial?
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Post by TBEAR on Jun 19, 2006 6:02:59 GMT -6
I dont know but thats a good question and abbd he sure was Joey's pick not to mention, correct me if I am wrong, but before he was chosen I think they lowered the standards requiring no college degree for the chief position to make it fit for him to be hired.
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