Thibodaux council member wants federal probe

Calvin Cooks, the Thibodaux Police Department captain whose lawsuit against his chief and the city alleges a “hit list” of officers set up for retribution by those officials, still isn’t talking about the case.

But a city council member who has been a backer of Cooks made some strong statements this week concerning her lack of faith in those same officials.

Constance Johnson said she wants the FBI to investigate claims in Cooks’ suit that he was falsely accused of being involved in a scheme to slash the tires of police cars last year, and that Chief Scott Silverii allegedly encouraged a small-time local criminal to say Cooks was behind the tire mayhem.

No formal communication has been sent to the FBI New Orleans bureau or elsewhere in the federal government, Johnson acknowledged. She also said she would be willing for the Louisiana State Police to conduct the investigation.

Her statements, made at a Thibodaux church with other civic, civil rights and religious leaders standing beside her, included a re-airing of allegations that complaints about city police officers allegedly harassing innocent people on the streets have routinely gone ignored by city officials.

However, Johnson gave no specifics about complainants or incidents.

Silverii could not be reached Monday night for comment. He has denied that he or anyone in his department has done Cooks any wrong. Eschete said he has had discussions with Johnson about her concerns in the past. He has offered for her to meet with him, but he said so far no meeting has occurred.

“The City Attorney has advised me and the Chief of Police to not comment on any pending lawsuit or the specific allegations being made within this petition filed,” reads an official statement issued by Eschete. “We categorically deny that there is any truth to the allegations made against me, Chief Scott Silverii and many employees of the Thibodaux Police Department. We will aggressively defend the integrity of the administration, the police department, and the outstanding and dedicated men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line for our citizens each and every day”

At no time, the two have said in prior interviews, did anyone conspire to deprive Cooks, a veteran officer who holds the ranks of captain, of either his civil rights or his rights as an employee under the civil service system.

Cooks alleges in court papers filed last year that he was wrongfully accused of involvement in the tire slashing incident because he refused to make a $5,000 contribution to a former city councilman’s re-election campaign.

“The attempt against Calvin Cooks was a sought-out, malicious action to discredit and destroy the integrity, reputation and career of an employee,” Johnson said. “It is time to put an end to this witch hunt and identify who is truly guilty.”

The Lafourche Sheriff’s Office – where Silverii once worked – did the investigation of the 2011 tire slashings. Investigators concluded Cooks had no involvement.

But Cooks, in the legal papers and during prior statements, has alleged he was harmed.

The fallout, he said, included his inability, once stripped of the title “Assistant Chief” at the department, to perform his part-time job of driving a school bus, because his schedule would be less flexible.

Silverii has stated there never was any such civil service classification or job, which Cooks remained on the force as a captain once he took over, and that no harm has been done.

Prior to Silverii’s takeover of the department, and prior to Echete’s election as mayor, the Lafourche Parish NAACP had brought to the attention of media outlets and city officials complaints of alleged excessive force by police officers.

But those complaints were not substantiated. In most cases, witnesses did not make the complaints under city police rules.

At that time, much of the focus was on Cooks, who was accused on multiple occasions of inflicting rough treatment on people he questioned or arrested in the city’s housing projects.

Asked to comment on that facet of the history, Johnson declined.

Lafourche Parish Councilman Jerry Jones was among civic leaders who attended Monday’s news conference at the Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

“I stand behind Ms. Johnson 100 percent,” Jones said. “It is time right now. We need answer and we need the truth, not only for the tire slashing but because some of our citizens have been in violation of their rights, police harassment. I have tried talking to this with the mayor on several occasions. We need to act. We need to know.”