EVANGELINE PARISH POLICE JURY

APRIL 4, 2017

    The Evangeline Parish Police Jury and its committees met Monday for their regular monthly meetings last night at the courthouse.

     The jury went behind closed doors in executive session with its attorney to discuss a lawsuit against the jury, the sheriff’s office, the city police and the city of Ville Platte. The lawsuit was filed following an investigation by the US Justice Department on local law enforcement agencies using “illegal holds” to detain subjects. After the closed door session, the jury approved a recommendation by its legal advisor, Ass’t.  District Attorney Marcus Fontenot,  to engage the services of  attorney Jacques Pucheu to represent the jury. The jury will asked  to be released from the lawsuit since the jury only provides housing for prisoners and does not set policy in regards to arresting people.

    In other business, the executive committee asked its engineer to decide whether to approve the purchase of high definition or standard definition security cameras for the parish jail and first floor area of the courthouse. The cameras are being purchased by a $35,000 grant;

   The jury set a public hearing on May 1 to abandon Adeuse Road, from LA 363 to Harrison road in the Faubourg area in District 5;

    Also the jury hired Darren Caesar as a new CDL driver for Region A;

    The police jury approved a trail ride for the Piney Woods Riders on May 7 in the Ward Four area;

     Secretary Treasurer Donald Bergeron reported that sales tax collections amounted to $201,547 which is less than last year.

     The jury also approved attendance for three people to the La. Emergency Planning Conference in Lake Charles May 1-4.