6-12-18
THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS UNDERSTAFFED, WHICH IS AFFECTING THEIR RESPONSE TIMES. THAT’S WHY THE POLICE UNION IS SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE OFFICERS. THEY’RE TRYING TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM THROUGH FACEBOOK. DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN KARL RATCLIFFE SAYS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THE OFFICER’S PAY, WHICH IS LEADING SOME OFFICERS TO GO TO OTHER AGENCIES WITH MORE COMPETITIVE SALARIES, SUCH AS STATE POLICE.
A EUNICE MAN WAS KILLED WHILE TRYING TO FLEE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT IN JEFF DAVIS PARISH YESTERDAY MORNING. A KINDER POLICE OFFICER TRIED TO PULL OVER 26-YEAR-OLD AARON M. CHARLOT FOR COMMITTING A TRAFFIC VIOLATION AT AROUND SEVEN A-M. CHARLOT REFUSED TO STOP AND LED THE OFFICER AND JEFF DAVIS PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES ON A CHASE THAT REACHED SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF ONE HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR ON L-A 383. ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE, CHARLOT LOST CONTROL AND HIS CAR WENT AIRBORNE INTO A WOODED AREA, STRIKING SEVERAL TREES. HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.
AUTHORITIES HAVE IDENTIFIED THE BODY FOUND IN ST. LANDRY PARISH WRAPPED IN A BLOOD-SOAKED BLANKET NEAR A LEVEE. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
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Louisiana lawmakers have fully funded their own budget so legislative agencies escape reductions in three weeks even as they weigh steep cuts to other programs and services. Lawmakers passed an $85 million spending plan for the House, Senate and other legislative agencies in the fiscal year starting July 1, similar to the budget approved last year. That comes as audits show the House and Senate have millions in unspent fund balances. Gov. John Bel Edwards called it irresponsible for lawmakers to cover their own paychecks and operations while leaving other agencies facing deep reductions.
THE LAFAYETTE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ADDING SEVENTEEN NEW RECRUITS, WHO WILL GO THROUGH A GRADUATION CEREMONY THIS FRIDAY. FIRE CHIEF ROBERT BENOIT TELLS KLFY TV THAT THEY OFFER DECENT PAY FOR A CITY OF LAFAYETTE’S SIZE, WHICH IS HELPING TO ATTRACT APPLICANTS. HE’S HOPING THAT TREND WILL CONTINUE AS THEY KEEP AN ACTIVE LIST TO HIRE AS OTHER FIREFIGHTERS MOVE ON OR RETIRE. HE SAYS HAVING A FULLY STAFFED DEPARTMENT MEANS THERE IS LESS STRESS ON FIREFIGHTERS TO DO THEIR JOBS.
A NONPROFIT FROM CALIFORNIA, THAT IS SUPPORTING A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD REQUIRE UNANIMOUS JURY VERDICTS TO CONVICT SOMEONE, IS PUTTING UP BILLBOARDS THROUGHOUT CALCASIEU PARISH CRITICAL OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN DEROSIER. THE BILLBOARD’S HAVE DEROSIER’S COMMENTS AT A LEGISLATIVE HEARING IN SUPPORT OF KEEPING 10-TO-2 JURY VERDICTS IN WHICH HE SAID “IT IS WHAT IT IS.” DEROSIER SAID THAT IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE 10-2 JURIES WERE RACIALLY MOTIVATED. DEROSIER TELLS KPLC TV HE STILL OPPOSES UNANIMOUS JURIES UNLESS SOMEONE COULD PROVE TO HIM IT WAS MORE RELIABLE.
AN H-I-V POSITIVE MAN FROM RAYNE HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR EXPOSING PEOPLE TO THE VIRUS. YESTERDAY JOSHUA D. DUGAS WAS BOOKED INTO THE ACADIA PARISH JAIL ON TWELVE COUNTS OF FELONY CARNAL KNOWLEDGE OF A JUVENILE AND TWELVE COUNTS OF INTENTIONAL EXPOSURE TO THE AIDS VIRUS. HIS BOND WAS SET AT 75 THOUSAND DOLLARS. MORE CHARGES ARE TO COME BECAUSE POLICE FOUND DRUGS AND WEAPONS AT HIS RESIDENCE, LOCATED IN THE 900 BLOCK OF EAST BRANCHE STREET.
Louisiana’s legislative auditor says the state education department has made strides in improving its spending controls on child care. A report issued Monday by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera’s office says the education department has enacted most of the recommendations made by auditors to track spending on the Child Care Assistance Program. A 2012 audit identified $46,000 in improper payments when the program was managed by the Department of Children and Family Services. The latest report says the education department, which took control in 2015, trimmed improper payments to about $24,000.
