On Tuesday, millions of Americans marched to the polls to cast ballots for President in what is a clear demonstration to the rest of the world that we live in a free society where citizens can say what they want about their leaders without fear of reprisals.
Someone should remind the Louisiana State Troopers’ Association (LSTA) of that.
If additional evidence that the LSTA does little else than attend parties and conventions while brooking no dissention from its membership, there is the ongoing purge of retiree members who dared question activities of its board which LouisianaVoice just learned about.
At the same time LouisianaVoice learned of the reprisals against dissent, we also examined LSTA TAX RETURNS which show that the organization devotes only a small portion of its revenue to charitable causes despite its claims to the contrary. Instead, LSTA has placed about $1 million in trusts, equities and options, mutual funds and money market funds while doing little for the welfare of its members.
LSTA operates Louisiana State Troopers Charities as a 501(c) (3) charitable organization
It also invested more than $200,000 in fundraising activities during 2013, the latest year for which records are available. At the same time, it spent about $28,000 in “grants and other assistance to governments and organizations.”
Among its other expenses were $184,000 for salaries and benefits; $112,400 for conventions, conferences and meetings and nearly $82,000 for travel.
The LSTA is a fraternal organization representing the men and women of the Louisiana State Police. The LSTA represents approximately 97 percent of the commissioned officers as well as a “substantial portion of the state police retirees.”
But those who dare think for themselves need not apply.
The number of retired members has just been reduced by at least four.
LouisianaVoice has learned that four retirees who questioned the authority of LSTA to make political contributions through its executive director in 2015 have been sent letters informing them they are no longer welcome as members of the fraternal organizations they devoted their working lives for.
State civil service rules, which extend to state troopers, prohibit political activity (including campaign contributions) on the part of classified employees.
This precision surgical procedure being carried out on its membership—to remove an inconvenient wart—is evidence of the influence that State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson has over LSTA despite Edmonson’s repeated contention that he has no direct involvement in the association’s activities.
As further illustration of the influence of Edmonson—and LSTA’s propensity to ignore the wishes of its membership—affiliated troops throughout the state voted against expulsion, LouisianaVoice has learned. The only vote to expel the retired members came from headquarters in Baton Rouge.
So much for the democratic process.
One of those retirees, Bucky Millet of Lake Arthur, has been a particular source of irritation to the association, attending monthly meetings of the Louisiana State Police Commission since last December to challenge actions by both the commission and association.
“I was a member of LSTA for 40 years,” Millet says. “Now they tell me I’m not welcome.”
Millet was instrumental in prodding the commission to at least go through the motions of a pseudo-investigation of the association’s funneling campaign contributions to political candidates through its executive director David Young.
That investigation was turned over to Natchitoches attorney Taylor Townsend, a confidant of Gov. John Bel Edwards, who essentially punted. Townsend declined to even issue a written report, which would have become a public record. He also neglected to include a digital recording—a recording that he possessed then and possesses now—of an admission by LSTA officers that they had violated state ethics regulations in contributing to several political candidates through Young.
So, when Millet and other retirees who were members of LSTA questioned the propriety—and the legality—of the contributions, the lines were effectively drawn. Those trouble-making retirees had targets on their backs from that moment on.
And now, even as 100 million Americans cast their votes in the greatest democracy the world has ever known, we learn there is no room for dissention in what should be a beacon of democracy and freedom of expression—the Louisiana State Troopers Association, the fraternal organization that represents those who are supposed to be the very guardians of our freedoms, our protectors.
Perhaps the leadership of LSTA should take a high school civics refresher course.
And just where, one might ask, are the Directors of this organization. Are they proud of their capitulation to a womanizing drunk that runs the once proud and respected State Police force? Seems like the only person being Protected and Served is Mike Edmonson. Oh well, Jon Bell sold his soul, honor, and dignity but got his wish for the Sheriffs’ support in the election by promising to reappoint Mike Edmonson. What disgusting individuals. They deserve one another but we deserve neither.
When there is this level of controversy surrounding the leadership of an organization, one would expect to see a verbal or written response from a spokesman for the LSTA explaining their position. In this case, those in charge of the LSTA chose to squash the voices of those LSTA members who questioned their actions. Why? Because they can! I’m curious. Do members of the LSTA vote for their representatives via secret ballot? If so, then it appears there is only one path to change. If changes aren’t made, then all state troopers will have to deal with the fallout from the public’s perception of the lack of integrity of the leadership of the LSTA.
Great report! Apparently, Gov. John Bel “Doormat Honor Code” Edwards believes he will be immune from the very items that caused Jindal (who began with MUCH higher approval ratings before his plunge) to plummet in popularity from the low 70s to the high 20s.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I firmly believe Edmonson and “Doormat Honor Code” KNOW that, in 2019, the party is over. I’ll have an unrelated (to Edmonson) entry to add to the tracking site later this week or early next, but I find it more fitting now than ever that JEBfraud was launched BEFORE Doormat was sworn into office and even BEFORE he formally reappointed Edmondson.
http://www.jbefraud.com/appoint_edmonson_LSP.htm
Looks like Doormat will have a steady addition of new entries onto the fraud tracking site.
About three weeks ago, several readers posted on a recent article that I’d “have a tough time dealing with the upcoming eight years of an HRC Presidency.” Obviously, I won’t be having to deal with even eight minutes of her in the White House (at least in official capacity). President-Elect Trump needs to appoint Rudy Giuliani as Attorney General, after which he, Giuliani, needs to conduct a thorough investigation into the Clinton emails, the Clinton Foundation, and ESPECIALLY concentrate on an INTENSE microscope into the actions of Loretta Lyuch who, in my opinion, should be destined for a Federal prison cell in close proximity to Ms. Clinton’s!
These new revelations remind me of the national controversies over leaked emails. They showed the back room workings that the public never saw. This is the same with the Louisiana State Trooper’s Association. I have to admit, although I have come to be ashamed of this group, I am no longer surprised by the corruption these allegations suggest.
I was a member for 30 years. I served on the Board of Directors for 8 years and was elected State President and served 2 years. After my term ended, the Association changed. The extent of how much is even now still being revealed. The new leadership utilized the Association as a political tool for personal advancement. I at first tried speaking out on my concerns about where this would lead. While they didn’t have the political will to expel me then, they ensured I wasn’t notified of any activities or meetings. Sort of a blackout. They ceased correspondence with me and didn’t make me aware of functions specifically involving past Presidents. They lost me in the membership rolls and subsequently held up my Retirement watch request until I proposed legal action. It was made clear they no longer considered me a member and later after I spoke out about their questionable political activities, my portrait was removed from among those who had served as President. I chose to no longer continue financial support with my dues. If I hadn’t, I would have already been removed by them during their “purge”.
The Association through State Statute holds membership in several state government boards/ commissions based on Legislative appreciation of their representation of members, Active and Retired. Maybe it’s time the Legislature re-evaluated those assignments.