The Senate Select Committee on State Police Oversight held its first meeting Monday. The senators are reviewing L-S-P’s use of force policies as the state agency has come under fire after several documented cases of Troopers beating up Black motorists. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says 99-percent of the state’s Troopers do their job well, while one-percent do not.
“I want to help you Colonel (Lamar) Davis to weed out the one-percent, because until we do it’s going to spoil the entire bunch,” said Fields.
Colonel Lamar Davis was named the new Superintendent of State Police 13 months ago. He says several changes have been made since his appointment, but unfortunately some of the changes can’t take place over night.
“Some of those things that plagued our agency they’ve been there for a minute, so it takes to unravel, to identify and then to correct those things,” said Davis.
Information gathered from this State Police Oversight Committee is expected to produce legislation that will be considered in the 2022 regular session.
“We’ve lost some trust, we’ve lost some respect and I want to be part of that team, hopefully this committee and with other members of the Legislature we’ll be able to do that,” said Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux.
Several high-ranking LSP officials were on hand to testify. Boudreaux asked Lt. Colonel Doug Cain about how L-S-P leadership is attempting to change the culture within the department. Cain says they are educating Troopers that everyone has a different life background and consider that when dealing with the public.
“I expect all of our people to do that to look through broad eyes, cross diversity, many different culture and factor all of that into your decision making,” said CAin.
The Senate Select Committee on State Police Oversight plans to hold another meeting on December 13th.
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