It seems that the folks at Louisiana State Police (LSP) headquarters over at Independence Park rather pompously refer to Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers as Gray Shirts because DPS uniform shirts are gray as opposed to the blue worn by State Troopers (and we thought the Blue-Gray business ended 151 years ago. Not true. We’re told that a State Trooper will not obey a direct order from a DPS captain. Can’t you just imagine an Army private ignoring an order from a Marine captain? And they say the FBI, Homeland Security and the CIA don’t cooperate.).
In the wake of significant pay raises for State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson and his inner circle and revelations of the glaring disparity in the salaries of (LSP) and (DPS) officers, it’s interesting to go back a couple of years and review an email Edmonson sent to DPS personnel. Our interpretations are inserted in bold face parentheses:
From: Mike Edmonson Sent: Friday, June 27, 2014 5:19 PM
To: _DPS_Commissioned Personnel_DPSPolice Subject: Personal Note
As you likely noticed, several e-mails have been sent to all commissioned personnel over the last few weeks discussing HB 872 and how that piece of legislation impacts troopers. Apparently those e-mails have fueled concerns and in some cases discontent within the ranks of DPS police. Let me reassure all of you that you remain a very important part of the DPS family (“But don’t any of you DPS lieutenants or captains try giving orders to my troopers.”) and while HB 872 does not specifically affect you (“It doesn’t affect you, so just keep your mouths shut”), my staff and I are well aware of the deficiencies within your current pay ranges. (“Guess what? Those deficiencies are about to become even greater.”)
The “fix” for that problem is somewhat more complicated than the “fix” for State Police because DPS personnel are part of the Civil Service classified service while troopers are part of the State Police classified service. Adjustments to State Police salaries may be made independent of Civil Service and thus do not affect the parity of all other employees who are part of that classified service, typically a major impediment to salary adjustments. We are however undeterred by the challenges of operating within the current structure of Civil Service. (“We at LSP are getting ours.”) and I have directed the staff of Operational Development to begin evaluating and analyzing the current pay levels for DPS police officers. (“It takes two-plus years to do this evaluation? Funny it didn’t take that long to get your $43,000 raise.”) In particular we want to identify which other Civil Service positions are similar in minimum qualifications and duties and thereafter evaluate the salary schedules of those positions in comparison to ours.
It should be noted that all eligible DPS officers received their 4% merit adjustments last year and will receive another this year amounting to an 8% total salary increase. (“Meanwhile, State Troopers will be getting 30 percent bumps and I’m gonna get a 32percent raise.”) Troopers, on the other hand, received anywhere from 0-3% merit adjustments. Moreover, the approval of HB 872 by the legislature is only the preliminary step in implementing a new pay grid for troopers. The new fund established to achieve that goal has a current balance of zero. We fully anticipate that sufficient monies will be accumulated over time to make the new grid a reality, but like the study and adjustment of DPS salaries, it will take time. (“Don’t hold your breath, Gray Shirts.”)
I understand the financial urgency that some of you feel at being improperly compensated and the frustration with the required process. But it has been disheartening to me that some within the ranks of DPS have seen fit to anonymously complain to legislators, the media and others outside our organization about feeling neglected and mistreated. (“That’s because if I ever learn who you are, you will be punished.”) Such communications are counterproductive to our efforts and can actually undermine our attempts to make adjustments to DPS salaries by drawing unnecessary attention to our plans. (“We have to keep our plans secret.”) Please understand that such communications put at risk the success of our efforts on your behalf. (“Strike that ‘on your behalf’ part.)
The study by Operational Development is the first step in what can sometimes be a laborious process but we will move as quickly as possible at finding an appropriate solution. Once our recommendations are finalized we will work with Civil Service in an effort to address the compensation issues. I will personally appear on your behalf before the Commission to make the case for pay adjustments (“What part of ‘Don’t hold your breath, Gray Shirts’ do you not understand?”). I pledge to keep you informed of our progress (So why has it been more than two years since we’ve heard from you?) and I would ask that you be patient during this process and have faith in me and my staff as I do in each of you. (We’ve seen what faith in you and your staff got us…nothing.) Be safe and may God continue to bless our families and guide each one of us. I will be visiting your sections soon.
Colonel Michael D. Edmonson
Louisiana Voice 
I certainly would like to ask God if He is guiding Edmonson or has some other supernatural power taken over control of his actions.
If the Great Commandment admonishes us to love our neighbor as ourselves, then the answer to the question above is answered.
And Doormat JBE continues to support Edmonson. So much for all that Honor Code claptrap!
Apparently the Blue received their raises in violation of The Louisiana State Constitution and the rules of the Louisiana State Police Commission.
On the other hand the Gray and other Civil Service employees have to follow state law. (WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?)
At the meeting of the joint legislative committee today the Attorney General was denied funding for additional fraud investigators in the medicaid section which could see a return of a 3-1 investment. On the other hand the cost of the Blue and Edmonson’s pay raises, which will cost about $100,000 a year. Apparently the Governor had no trouble finding money for this.
If you are worried about tax increases you should call your REPRESENTATIVE.There are more of us then them!
Our esteemed Col. doesn’t want anonymous comments outside the Department. Could that be because he can’t control what is said? Is he afraid of the truth being “leaked?” I guess that he doesn’t realize that real LEOs talk among and between ourselves. But then, how could he know that? He is a glorified PIO who reads what others write or steals phrases from others and repeats them as his own sound bytes. Or, is it because he his afraid that his reputation will be blemished? He did that to himself long ago. His acts of retribution, retaliation, intimidation, and veiled threats are symptomatic of someone who is afraid of what will be disclosed? Paranoid much, Colonel?
Those skeletons are not buried as deeply as he may want them to be. We all knew your connections to Jindal were strong because of your ability to cater (sell LSP out) to him and your big buddy, Timmy Teeple. Have you managed to pull that off with JBE or are you counting on the Sheriffs’ Association to have your back? You have certainly placed your pawns in key positions to do just that. How many of those pawns are guarding the door to your skeleton closet?
There are some questions that some would like asked of and about him. 1) Can he really justify all of his travel on LSTA and state monies? Is there evidence that he is attending the said meetings? Or, are the photos that he and his family flaunt of their worldliness supposed to suffice. He is too narcissistic to see that those only add to the rage surrounding the DPS/LSP disparate treatment with DPS employees when we/they are in the trenches are struggling to make ends meet. Yeah, I used the word “disparate .” The Col. may be familiar with it as I assume it is mentioned in some of the lawsuits being slapped against him and his clique. If not yet, soon. 2) How many other state officials (e.g. Fire Marshal, Colonel, etc.) are allowed/entitled to free admission to public events by waiving their badges? How does that include backstage passes and selfies with celebrities?Colonel, you are NOT a celebrity. If he/they are there in official duty, put down the alcohol and act as a positive representative(s) for LSP. Doesn’t that violate state ethics laws or codes? 3) Where does the Legislative Auditor stand when it comes to hosting graduation, birthday parties and personal social gatherings at his crib on the compound? Who is footing the bill or is he still sneaking food out of the cafeteria? Who will pay for his daughter’s 30th bd bash on the 24th on the compound? (The announcement has already been made so there is no use for him to play dumb here.) Seriously, with his legitimate perks and the ones that he dreams up for himself, what exactly does he pay for himself – not housing, clothes, food, utilities, gasoline, etc. For anything that may not be covered, he relies heavily on his “friends.” He has friends for that or those upon which he bestows favors to keep them quiet. There is an ongoing FBI investigation within LWF for infractions smaller than what is going on within the Colonel’s crowd. 4) Let’s talk about liquor and about public intoxication and his long buried crash in LSP police unit. Has IA completely destroyed those records? Does he think his PSA with his boy, Troy Hebert, served as his public “confession” and absolved him of that crime? We all know that PSA was filmed when he thought he still had a prayer of becoming Lt. Gov, but he killed that with the Edmonson Amendment (of course, his hands are clean and he knew nothing about that.) If you believe that, I know of a nice house in Denham Springs for sale-no water damage. 4) Our esteemed Colonel was front and center during the racial tensions in July. That’s pretty ironic since the level of racial tension that the Edmonson regime has created is much greater than what is really going on in BR. Note the recent round of promotions of black Troopers. Was that to ward off another discrimination lawsuit? The timing is suspect here. Too little, too late. The attorneys are busy listening to disgruntled employees. 5) What is being done to monitor the trips, dinners, gifts, etc. he is accepting from private citizens? What favors are being granted for those folks? While I understand that friends can “give” you anything, it’s just a little uncanny and maybe even criminal who yours are and the amount that you accept/expect from them.
I am tired of writing. Get this clown and his clique out. Put them where they belong – in jail.
P.S. We are tired of your sanctimonious Sunday sermons, too. They are a joke.
Amen!!!
Wow. Good writing, Fedup!
I think a good forensic audit of the LSTA Non Profits and the Louisiana Trooper Foundation might be a good start to an investigation into this bunch. It is sad what this once honorable agency has evolved into.