Morgan City redistricting plan draws fire from residents
May 2, 2012Crime blotter: Reported offenses in the Tri-parishes
May 2, 2012
Members of the Terrebonne Parish Council conducted a special session Monday evening to re-examine a piece of state legislation it had previously supported.
Louisiana House Bill 106, authored by state. Rep. Gordon Dove (R-Houma), was presented to the state House of Representatives in support of a call by parish council members formulating employment status for office of Houma Police Chief. The bill passed with a 98-0 vote and advanced to the state Senate, where it was placed in committee.
The Terrebonne Parish council had unanimously adopted its TPC Resolution 12-002 on Jan. 11. The measure extends an agreement made in 2009 (Act 416) by the previous parish council that designated the Houma police chief hold an unclassified department head designation, under direct supervision of the parish president, rather than being classified a civil servant, and answerable to civil service regulations.
Act 416 was adopted with a sunset rule, slated to take effect on July 1 that would automatically place the police chief back as a civil servant and not an independent department head.
Most recent legislation renewed that agreement, but not without confusion arising as to if it was temporary or permanent.
During last Wednesday’s council meeting, Houma Police Association spokesman Patrick Theriot asked the council to repeal their motion that had been passed on to become state law.
“Let me clarify something,” Theriot said. “We have no problem with our current chief or with this administration.”
Parish President Michel Claudet said he would never recommend a police chief that did had questionable credentials. Even if there were a question, he said the parish council would be the point of checks and balance and carry final say.
“Under [HB-106] the police chief is like any other department head,” Claudet said. “There is no loss of seniority if he goes back into the ranks and his retirement goes back into place. If you have dealt with civil service, it is extremely difficult to remove someone from office if they are not doing the job, even if they are filling the position.”
“We are not opposed to extending the sunset to the end of Mr. Claudet’s term,” Theriot said. The police association spokesman then suggested that legislation had been written in a manner that would make the current police chief arrangement permanent. “We are looking toward the future and the best interest of the police department.”
The problem the police association has that according to its members any parish president could easily hire a police chief with only five years experience, while those belonging to the police union are required to have been in supervisory positions at least a rank of sergeant and pass a civil service governed examination to qualify for chief.
Theriot said there was concern that if the police chief left civil service status, that person would lose seniority and retirement benefits. He also voiced a fear that direct hiring and firing of a chief by parish president could lead to either favoritism or unfair retribution on the part of the parish’s top executive.
Council Chairwoman Arlanda Williams questioned the details of what the council passed, why the parish legislation appeared to be temporary in nature while the state bill was permanent. She then called for a comparative examination of the documents. “I don’t support eliminating [the police chief from being a civil servant],” she said. “I do support extending [the current department head arrangement]. I don’t remember voting to eliminate anything.”
“I’m fine with how things are now,” Police Chief Todd Duplantis said outside the meeting. “I have never been a civil servant nor benefited from civil service.”
Claudet said the basic argument surrounds working between the two pieces of legislation leaving confusion as to if the arrangement would be temporary or permanent. “We are going to get that straightened up,” he said. “Either way it is set during the remainder of my term or we have Todd Duplantis. So we are in good shape.”
Results of council discussion were not available as of press time.
Houma Police Chief Todd Duplantis listens as the Terrebonne Parish Council discusses a bill before the Louisiana state Senate that would permanently change his office from civil service status to one answering directly to the parish president.
