CONSIDERS ITSELF AN OASIS IN A TROUBLED WORLD.
A PLACE WHERE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS GOOD, PEOPLE FEEL SAFE , AND CRIME IS LOW.
SULA: LATELY IN HARAHAN, THE PEOPLE CHARGED WITH KEEPING RESIDENTS SAFE AND PREVENTING CRIME ARE THEMSELVES EMBROILED IN A BARE-KNUCKLE BRAWL.
SHAUN: TRAVERS MACKEL HAS MORE IN THIS WDSU INVESTIGATES REPORT.
TRAVERS: ITS ALL TAKING PLACE BEFORE THE HARAHAN FIRE AND POLICE SO WILL SERVICE BOARD.
A BOARD WHOSE WORK ITS CHAIRWOMAN SAYS IS USUALLY AS INTERESTING AS DISHWATER.
ITS FAR FROM THAT DULL THESE DAYS AS THE ALLEGATIONS OF WRONGDOING ARE COMING FULL BLAS WDSU INVESTIGATES HAS LEARNED BOTH THE FBI AND LOUISIANA
ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO INVESTIGATE THE HARAHAN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
LAW ENFORCEMENT SOURCES TOLD WDSU INVESTIGATES THAT AT LEAST FOUR MEETINGS WITH THE FBI HAVE TAKEN PLACE WHILE THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE HAS REPORTEDLY BEEN CONTACTED AT
LEAST TWICE.
THE ALLEGATIONS BROUGHT FORWARD TO THEM ARE IN LINE WITH THOSE RAISED AT RECENT HARAHAN FIRE AND POLICE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD MEETINGS WITH BOARD MEMBERS BEING PRESSED TO ASK FOR AN
INVESTIGATION OF THE HARAHAN PD BY OUTSIDE AGENCIES.
>> I’M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO AUTHORITIES, BUT THEY ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK PUBLICLY.
TRAVERS: A CIVIC ACTIVISTS ALSO TOLD THE BOARD THE NUMEROUS OFFICERS CLAIMED THEY WERE GIVEN A QUOTA FOR ISSUING TRAFFIC TICKETS, WHICH COULD BE AGAINST STATE LAW.
>> SERGEANTS WERE PRESSURED TO HAVE THEIR PLATOONS RIGHT TICKETS BY CHIEF WALKER AND HIS ADMINISTRATION.
IF YOU SPOKE OUT WERE REFUSED TO ENFORCE TICKET QUOTAS, YOU WERE TARGETED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
TRAVERS: THAT LEADS TO ANOTHER CONCERN.
A HIGH TURNOVER RATE IN THE DEPARTMENT WITH SEVEN PEOPLE FIRED AND SEVEN REASSIGNED AND A DEPARTMENT WITH 19 STREET-LEVEL OFFICERS.
>> THERE’S A PROBLEM AND NO AMOUNT OF MONEY WILL KEEP OUR HONEST AND SEASONED POLICE OFFICERS IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED.
EXPERIENCED OFFICERS KNOW THE LAW AND WILL NOT COMPLY WITH ORDERS.
SEASONED OFFICERS CANNOT BE CONTROLLED BY THIS CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION.
EITHER THEY WILL LEAVE ON THEIR OWN, OR ARE FORCED OUT BY A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT.
TRAVERS: WE WANTED TO DO AN ON CAMERA INTERVIEW WITH TIM WALKER.
HE DECLINED TO SPEAK TO US ON THE RECORD.
WE ALSO ASKED THE CURRENT MAYOR FOR AN ON CAMERA INTERVIEW.
HE DECLINED, SAYING HE HAS SEEN LITTLE PROOF OF ANY IMPROPRIETIES AND WILL REASSIGN -- REASSESS THAT IF ANY PROOF IS GIVEN.
HIS PREDECESSOR HAS RAISED MANY OF THE SAME ALLEGATIONS AND SAYS SHE TOOK THEM TO AUTHORITIES.
HER CONCERNS INCLUDED SHODDY RECORD-KEEPING AND QUESTIONABLE FINANCIAL PRACTICES.
>> MY DUTY WAS TO REPORT IRREGULARITIES TO ALL AGENCIES.
WE HAVE EVEN SENT THINGS TO THE OIG IN WASHINGTON DC.
WE HAVE SENT THINGS TO THE U.S.
SANDERS.
WE HAVE SENT IT TO THE DA, THE U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE.
WE HAVE GONE TO THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR.
WE WENT EVERYWHERE.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS OUR DUTY.
WE FOLLOW THE LAW.
TRAVER WDSU INVESTIGATES HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE IF ANY AGENCIES OR INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED BY THE FORMER MAYOR HAVE LOOKED INTO THE ALLEGATIONS.
THE BOARD WAS EXPECTED TO TAKE A VOTE ON THE REQUEST FOR THE INVESTIGATION LAST FRIDAY.
THAT MEETING LASTED JUST UNDER TWO MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE?
>> SINCE THE COMPLAINT PARTY IS NOT HERE, I VOTE WE ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE ADJOURN THE MEETING, BECAUSE THE PERSON IS NOT PRESENT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> AYE.
TRAVERS: SHE CAME IN SECOND LATER.
THE BOARD SAID IT COULD NOT REOPEN THE MEETING AND HAD TO RESCHEDULE HER FOR A LATER DATE.
>> WE HAVE AGREED TO RESCHEDULE THIS.
TRAVERS: NO WORD JUST YET ON WHEN THE BOARD WILL RESUME ITS HEARING ON THE ALLEGATIONS AND REQUESTS FOR THE INVESTIGATIONS.
THERE WILL CON