Seriously, Gov. Edwards, it’s time you pulled your head out of the sand and took a long, hard look at the Department of Public Safety (DPS), notably the Louisiana State Police (LSP), beginning at the top.
The longer you wait to take action to rein in this runaway agency, the more certain it becomes you are going to be embarrassed at some point in the future.
Take tomorrow’s (Aug. 11) meeting AGENDA, for example.
Even as Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne was warning earlier this week that we can expect another budgetary shortfall, Item 5 on tomorrow’s commission agenda is to rescind a general circular relative to the revision of the Uniform Pay and Classification Plan. This is so that state police, already the recipients of two major pay increases totaling 50 about percent last year, may get yet another raise. It’s worth noting that state classified employees have gone without pay raises of any description for six years now.
Then there is Item 7 which calls for the creation of an additional unclassified position of Lieutenant Colonel as Deputy Superintendent, Chief Administrative Officer especially to accommodate Maj. Jason Starnes—the same Jason Starnes who briefly was allowed to live rent-free in the State Police Training Academy barracks when he separated from his wife.
That would bring to something around one and one-half Lieutenant Colonel positions but more significantly, this is a thinly-veiled attempt by State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson to consolidate his power at LSP.
This is a move to circumvent a complaint filed in May over Edmonson’s promotion of Starnes as Interim Undersecretary of Management and Finance, even going so far as to post his “new” position on the State Police Web page.
Starnes, a classified member of LSP, was transferred by Edmonson to the unclassified non-state police service position. That move, the complaint said, was in violation of Rule 14.3(G), which says:
- No classified member of the State Police shall be appointed, promoted, transferred or any way employed in or to any position that is not within the State Police Service.
The proposed creation of the new unclassified position will place Starnes in direct supervision of his estranged wife, Tammy, Audit Manager for LSP.
We first announced the proposed appointment of Starnes by Edmonson in May https://louisianavoice.com/2016/05/16/mike-edmonsons-appointment-not-official-yet-senate-committee-set-to-consider-his-confirmation-on-tuesday/ and in June we announced that Edmonson had pulled the promotion following filing of the complaint. https://louisianavoice.com/2016/06/06/starnes-promotion-pulled-by-edmonson-after-complaint-governor-fails-to-sign-lsp-pay-plan-rescinded-by-lspc/
LouisianaVoice was first to report two years ago that Edmonson had orchestrated an attempt to tack an amendment onto a House bill on the final day of the 2014 legislative session which would have given him an additional $55,000 per year in retirement pay in contravention of an irrevocable option he had exercised years before that froze his retirement at a lower level. https://louisianavoice.com/2014/07/11/generous-retirement-benefit-boost-slipped-into-bill-for-state-police-col-mike-edmonson-on-last-day-of-legislative-session/
More recently, the executive director of the Louisiana State Troopers Association (LSTA) was found to have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to political campaigns on behalf of LSTA. https://louisianavoice.com/2015/12/09/more-than-45000-in-campaign-cash-is-funneled-through-executive-director-by-louisiana-state-troopers-association/
While individual state troopers, like their civil service counterparts in state government, are prohibited from taking part in political campaigns, including making campaign contributions, LSTA Executive Director David Young made the contributions in his name and was reimbursed by the association. https://louisianavoice.com/2015/12/09/more-than-45000-in-campaign-cash-is-funneled-through-executive-director-by-louisiana-state-troopers-association/
An attorney and former state legislator, Taylor Townsend of Natchitoches, was given a $75,000 contract to conduct an investigation of the money laundering scheme. But true to form for ethics investigations in Louisiana (an ethics complaint against LSP has been pending for months with no indication of a ruling forthcoming any time in the foreseeable future), Taylor made a 10-minute presentation at last month’s meeting in which he recommended that no action be taken. https://louisianavoice.com/2016/07/14/expectations-of-state-police-commission-report-on-lsta-campaign-contribution-probe-dies-with-a-pitiful-whimper/
A recording of the Troop I Chapter of LSTA was made available to Townsend but he has refused to release a copy of that recording in which it was admitted that the LSTA was in violation of state law in making the contributions. Taylor’s refusal to release the recording was based on his assertion that the tape “was never entered into evidence,” an explanation that makes no sense whatsoever in terms of conducting a thorough investigation.
Moreover, Townsend, in additional attempts to prevent his “findings” from being made public, did not prepare a written report to the board on which to base his recommendation of no action.
Which brings up a little problem regarding Commission Rule 16:18 regarding LSPC investigations. That rule says the following:
- “The Commission shall, upon concluding its public hearing and investigation, render a decision in writing, which shall contain its findings of fact, conclusions of law, and pertinent orders and instructions; and shall file same with the Director. The decision shall be final on the day it is filed. The Director shall furnish copies to all respondents and other interested parties.”(emphasis added.) http://laspc.dps.louisiana.gov/laspc.nsf/c4b8169248104d4286256ead0069b9bd/e3b8c6726b53168886256ea000683760?OpenDocument
So for $75,000, we have a so-called “investigation,” but no written report, no written decision, nothing apparently submitted into evidence, and a recommendation of no action.
Really? I could have done that for $10,000 and given the commission change back.
There is only one person in the entire state who could have neutered that investigation in such a manner.
And we thought Bobby Jindal was underhanded and secretive.
John Bel Edwards is a man who confided in me of his intentions to run before he officially announced for governor. For whatever reason, he wanted my feedback. He then ran on the West Point Honor Code. He even told me he had no intentions one way or another as to the reappointment of Edmonson. Obviously, he was being less than truthful.
Now, it seems, he cares little for others’ opinions—unless they are members of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association. His West Point Honor Code has somehow morphed into a code of political expediency, expedience dictated by the sheriffs’ association.
Edwards needs to turn his attention from the sheriffs’ association’s whispers in his ear and direct his focus more on appointees who are working surreptitiously to build an impenetrable wall around their fiefdoms designed to enhance their own power bases.
Beginning with that abortive pension increase amendment and continuing through the personnel debacles in Lake Charles, to administering little or no discipline in cases of troopers having sex in their patrol cars while on duty, to sneaking underage women into a casino in Vicksburg, Mississippi, to allowing the LSTA to make campaign contributions (do you really think the LSTA would do something like that without his blessings?), Edmonson has brought a succession of embarrassments down upon the LSP.
The question now becomes: How much more is Edwards willing to tolerate?
Louisiana Voice 
“How much more is Edwards willing to tolerate?” Quite a lot, apparently. Disgraceful.
It is clear from pieces here and in the mainstream media that Gov. Edwards has no problem with whatever goes on at the Department of Public Safety AND Corrections as long as the Sheriffs Association is happy.
Mr. Aswell, I think your figure is off. Edmonson was locked in at $79,000 per year. He is paid at least $134,000 per year now. That is $55,000 per year more. Figure that over a 30 year retirement and you have over $1.6 million that he attempted to steal from the tax payers. You should not criticize Edmonson. He has gotten away with so much. That could not happen without chess game he has been playing his entire career. You have to admit, it is pretty impressive.
The thing is Tom, Edmonson is very savvy and knows how to play the publicity game. He was all over the tv screens during and after the Baton Rouge police massacre providing a calm and soothing voice to the populace. The same goes for his appearances in New Orleans where the troopers are “helping” the local police in the French Quarter.
None of the bad things are getting any airplay to show what’s going on with the shenanigans in the LSP.
Dear Governor Edwards,
I’m forwarding this Louisiana Voice article which makes several good points. It’s disappointing to learn the state police will receive yet another pay raise while public school teachers have not gotten a raise since Jindal (and now you) served as Governor. At the same time we endured crippling cuts in public education funding which required our spending even more personal funds to do our jobs.
Several years ago we were assessed additional taxes, now 10 or 11% of our salaries, instead of the slightly over 7% we would instead be paying into FICA. The higher taxes we now pay to TRSL may extend the life of this failing system which, thanks to the legislature’s not meeting fiduciary responsibility for over 30 years, may soon be insolvent. When these higher taxes were levied you served in the Legislature so must remember the talking points that teachers “weren’t paying our fair share”.
Governor Blanco supported and signed legislation allowing Louisiana’s teachers finally to begin receiving wages approaching the “Southern average”. As a newly retired public school teacher required these John White/Jindal years to jump through illegitimate, ridiculous hoops which constantly changed, while we and public education were denigrated, I am disappointed to believe you support additional raises for the troopers while not addressing public school teachers’ needs.
I urge you to consider public school teachers’ needs at least as important as troopers’.
A supporter who does not always agree with your choices,
Alicia Breaux, Retired
St. Tammany Parish Schools
P. S . Several anti-public-education laws were passed and signed by Jindal which eliminated millions in tax revenue. They include the $5,000 per child deduction for children not in public schools and the bottom line tax credit for “scholarship” contributions to private and parochial schools. The tax credit is dollar for dollar and the law provides a kick-back to the donor of 95% from state coffers. THOSE SHOULD BE REPEALED FORTHWITH.
Most of Edwards’ family is in, or retired from, Louisiana law-enforcement. Don’t expect anything to change.
The last seven months have indeed been disheartening to say the least. I guess the only solace I can take is that I never had any expectations whatsoever of JBE, so there is no letdown on my part from any heightened expectations prior to his inauguration. .
Having said that, Gov. Edwards DID give me fleeting reason for optimism when he APPEARD to be willing to take action to at least clean up the extensive corruption on the Auctioneer Licensing Board. As Stephen will attest, I even gave him a glowing feature on my video blog and indicated, were he to continue making moves like that, I may even give careful consider to voting for him in 2019 (and that is a MAJOR statement coming from someone like me).
Unfortunately, the “good ‘ole boy” auctioneer network got to him just as the Edmonson “good ‘ole boy” network has his ear permanently and forever bent, thus prompting the deception to Tom (the job was promised to Edmonson well in advance of the election the same way the Dardenne appointment was).
Everyone knows I created a JBEfraud website on 12/10/15. i did so because I was fully expecting what we’re seeing now. In the initial video explaining the launch of the website, I openly stated (and I meant it) that it would be my desire “for this website to have no entries and for Gov. Edwards to be able to say, ‘I sure made a fool of that Burns guy.'” Obviously, that won’t be happening, and the site already has entries that OUGHT to be embarrassing to JBE, but somehow, I don’t think they’re any more embarrassing to him than similar actions were to Jindal.
I take no comfort from JBE being what I anticipated because it means the people of Louisiana are once again subject to cronyism and back-room deals for yet another four years.
I would quit voting (my record in Gubernatorial elections is 2-7 since I became eligible to vote), but then, according to the old saying, “You have no right to complain,” and God knows I don’t hold back on doing that!!
Oh, well.
I think it is shameful for what’s been happening in the State Police, and instead of fixing things, JBE, goes along. In the past year, they have gotten themselves huge raises, more than one. Now, they are corrupt and when investigated, swept under the rug. Sounds much like Washington and FBI investigation of Hillary’s emails.
While embarrassed at what has been and is going on, I nonetheless have a clear conscience. I have alerted and warned about Edmonson, State Police, the Sheriff’s Association, and how Edwards would govern. My criticisms apparently fell on deaf ears as our Legislators, Elected Officials, and other voters thought they knew better. Jindal and Edwards both allowed this to happen and voters supported “Code Boy”despite the warnings. The fiscal implications of these decisions extend significantly further than todays budget impacts. Downstream implications of increased higher rank positions, rapid promotions, and tremendous salary increases not only must be paid for now and in the future, they also cause a tremendous negative impact on retirement systems. The unfunded liablilty experiences significant negative impact. We will pay for these decisions. We have no reason to be surprised when crooks do “crook” things. The Mafia should take lessons. These fine politicians and appointees have corruption down to a science.
Great comments if all (except for the Educator Alicia) would take out the “I-I” in their thoughts and comments, and run for office, get elected, and learn that leadership and governing includes ALL- including a lot of experts and a-holes, who have different opinions- otherwise, Stand for Donald Trump-I hear he loves the Republicans in La.-ron thompson