A proposed state law that would reform the police civil service promotion process for high-ranking positions in Lafayette to mirror the setup in Lake Charles has received early support from a Senate committee.
by Sen. Brach Myers, R-Lafayette, would allow any qualified employee ranked at sergeant or above who passes the civil service exam to be considered for the promotion to major at the Lafayette Police Department. It would also add a requirement for annual reviews by the police chief for anyone holding the position, which supporters billed as adding a layer of accountability.
The current law requires civil service candidates at the Police Department to be considered for promotions based on “departmental seniority” and does not require an annual review process once someone is named a major.
"These majors run divisions. They run a third of the department,” said Lafayette Police Chief Paul Trouard, who testified at the Wednesday afternoon hearing at the Legislature. “And we’re looking for basically competency over tenure.”
The bill, which piggybacks on an existing law allowing a similar process for promotions at the Lake Charles Police Department, received unanimous support Wednesday from the . The bill will head next to the full Senate.
Trouard told the committee that he has just three applicants, or about 1% of his department, who have passed the necessary test to be promoted to major. If the bill becomes law, it would allow an additional 70 to 80 people to apply.
A vacancy in the Lafayette Police Department from Maj. Michael Brown inspired the bill.
Brown announced his retirement from the department earlier this month after the Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board said it would launch an investigation into him regarding a complaint about prohibited political involvement. His departure prompted the Senate bill, along with a sister bill introduced on the House side by Rep. Joshua Carlson, R-Lafayette, according to Civil Service Board Attorney Candice Hattan.
“This is to make sure you get the best, not the oldest,” Hattan said. “And then once you pick the best, that person doesn’t just have it made since this is just a yearlong appointment. These chiefs never feel like they can fire anybody. And when they fire them, they think that the board is going to put them back in their jobs, so they don’t even write them up.”
Trouard, who was appointed as police chief earlier this year, said some majors work hard while others are doing the bare minimum while waiting for their retirement. Trouard said he’s received support for the bill from the Lafayette mayor-president, his police union and his police department.
“I’m not looking for any disruption,” Trouard said. “I’m not looking to move anybody. I’m just looking for a higher quality of leadership.”
Lafayette Consolidated Government Chief Administrative Officer Rachel Godeaux spoke in support of the bill during Wednesday’s meeting.Â
Seven others issued their support for the bill but did not wish to speak, including former state Sen. Mike Michot, R-Lafayette, and representatives with the Lafayette Police Department and Lafayette Consolidated Government.
No opponents spoke against it.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story stated Lake Charles would be affected by the proposed law. Although Lake Charles is included in the bill, changes would only affect the Lafayette Police Department.
