Gov. John Bel Edwards has seen and heard enough.
Or has he?
Today, Edwards apparently decided the advantages of keeping the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association happy by retaining Louisiana State Police (LSP) Superintendent did not outweigh the political liabilities.
A formal announcement was said to have been scheduled for today that Michael Edmonson will step down after 36 years with LSP and slightly more than nine years as the state’s top cop. Now, it looks as though a “retirement” announcement won’t be forthcoming until Monday at the earliest.
State Police public information officer Maj. Doug Cain denied the report. “I just talked to the colonel and he said he is not resigning, nor has he been asked to resign.” he said.
Calls to the governor’s office for comment were not returned.
An interim superintendent will be named by Edwards until a permanent replacement can be found, LouisianaVoice has learned. Speculation that Edmonson’s second in command, Deputy Superintendent Lt. Col. Charles Dupuy would be elevated to Edmonson’s post apparently is not true as sources say Dupuy will not get the post.
Dupuy was among those who took that trip to San Diego back in October and it was his state vehicle in which four troopers drove to San Diego with stops in Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.
Even before the California trip, Edmonson has been the subject of scrutiny by LouisianaVoice since July 2014. It was then that State Sen. Neil Riser slipped an amendment to an otherwise benign bill in the last hours of the regular legislative session which would have given Edmonson an illegal retirement increase. Initial reports said that increase would have been around $55,000.
His retirement was frozen at a rate based on his $76,000 per year salary at the time he entered DROP. The amendment would have adjusted that retirement based on his salary of $131,000 in 2014. Since that time, however, his salary has been increased to $177,500 which would have ended up giving him an additional $101,500 in retirement income had Claitor not filed his legal action voiding the illegal maneuver.
Edwards was among those in the House who voted in favor of the bill with the amendment attached which would have allowed Edmonson to circumvent requirements of the so-called DROP program which froze his retirement at a rank lower than his present colonel rank. The decision to enter DROP was supposed to be irrevocable but the bill allowed Edmonson, and coincidentally, one other trooper, to make an end-run around the requirements.
Even as then-Rep. Edwards was calling unsuccessfully for then-House Speaker Chuck Kleckley to call for an investigation into the matter (Kleckley refused), State Sen. Dan Claitor filed suit in 19th Judicial District Court and obtained a ruling legally blocking the raise.
But LouisianaVoice continued revealing lapses in Edmonson’s leadership of LSP. Those included cases of payroll fraud; promotions of a trooper who had a documented prescription addiction but was promoted nonetheless to troop commander; and another who was promoted to troop commander after being caught by Mississippi authorities sneaking an underage woman into a Vicksburg casino; examples of token punishment for other troopers, including one who twice had sex with an informant while on duty—once in his patrol unit, were also reported by LouisianaVoice.
LouisianaVoice has presented LSP with scores of public records requests in efforts to determine how the LSP metes out punishment on those troopers found in disfavor as well as how it spends its money.
A recent request for a record of expenditures at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, other than on those who were detailed to the event for security, was met with a response that there were no such records for expenditures other than for SECURITY.
But Suzanne Edmonson, wife of the LSP Superintendent, posted this 2014 Facebook photo with the caption “Here to protect & serve but mostly drink.”
This photo, as well as other photos and messages, have been removed from Suzanne Edmonson’s (on right) Facebook page.
Edmonson was first appointed Superintendent by Gov. Bobby Jindal in January 2008. Prior to that, he was best known as the ever-present bodyguard first for Nick Saban and then for Les Miles at LSU football games. Before that, he was public information for LSP and had never served in a supervisory capacity.
He was reappointed by Edwards in January 2016 as a trade-off for the much-needed endorsement of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association in his 2015 runoff election against U.S. Sen. David Vitter.
Edwards’ brother, Daniel Edwards, is the sheriff of Tangipahoa Parish and his office was raided by the FBI last year as part of an ongoing investigation by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.
Gov. Edwards has steadfastly stood behind Edmonson throughout his superintendent’s turbulent tenure marked by sporadic rumors of partying and lax administration of subordinates, particularly his troop commanders who were pretty much given free rein.
He also has been linked to the Louisiana State Troopers Association’s (LSTA) political contributions even though he says he has nothing to do with the LSTA operations. But LouisianaVoice was able to document that Edmonson approached LSTA right after Edwards’ election victory over Vitter to request the association to write a letter to Edwards endorsing him for reappointment.
LSTA’s board denied that request but did wash members’ money through the personal bank account of its executive director, David Young. Jindal and Edwards, at different points in time, each received $10,000 from Young, who subsequently filed expense reports for reimbursement from LSTA.
Edwards returned his contributions but Jindal never did.
Earlier this week, the FBI walked in on a board meeting of LSTA and served each of its board members with subpoenas to appear before a federal grand jury. The date of that grand jury has not been announced. In all, 18 subpoenas were served on current and former board members and Young.
In another surprise move, former Lafayette Parish Sheriff Donald Breaux resigned from the Louisiana State Police Commission (LSPC). He was the second member to quit the commission in just over a month. Commission executive director Cathy Derbonne resigned under pressure, prompting Lloyd Grafton, a retired career federal agent, to also resign, saying he had tried without success to bring integrity to the board.
Following that meeting yesterday, commission members Eulis Simien and Calvin Braxton met with Gov. Edwards for more than an hour. Braxton, contacted by LouisianaVoice, acknowledged that the meeting took place, “but I’m not saying what was discussed,” he said.
LouisianaVoice will have more details about Edmonson’s resignation as they become available.
Louisiana Voice 
It’s about time!
Huge Story! Your great research played a major role! Congrats, Tom.
Gov. Edwards, I told you so.
Why was the LSA so eager to have Edmunson reappointed?
Politics, dude, politics…
Well, yes, but how does Edmunson’s position as chief of the LSP benefit the sheriffs?
Now maybe honesty, integrity, and dedication will be recognized again. For so long integrity to commit crimes and cover up bad behavior, dedication for self service, political favors, and sexual deviance has been held in high regard, and honestly doing anything they wanted to do no matter what criminal acts were committed. Many good retirees left due to retaliation for doing the right thing. Example: how does IA investigate a complaint by a citizen three times, and The Major of IA has three different determinations each time just to cover up the crimes of a drug addicted captain. Wish I wouldn’t have retired a year ago so I could attend old mikes retirement party. Hopefully the investigations don’t stop. Tom, you will never know how many lives you have impacted in a positive way against alll the odds, Robert burns, and the rest of the ousted retirees also. I was too weak and afraid for my families well being to ever come forward.
EVERYBODY told Edwards so, from his strongest supporters to his most fierce detractors (a group of which I consider myself a member).
There is NO WAY this day would ever have arrived without the hard work, tenacity, and never-say-give-up determination of Tom Aswell.
It’s not like I didn’t warn Edwards this day was coming (simply watch the first 1:45 of the video on this page where I told Edwards he’d gotten himself “between a rock and a hard place”): http://www.jbefraud.com/appoint_edmonson_LSP.htm.
Great work, Tom, and from my vantage point, Edwards gets ZERO applause for correcting this mess because he NEVER should have allowed it to transpire in the first place!!
So what’s the deal, is your story true? Edmonson gone? Sources incorrect?
I have whom I consider excellent sources on one side saying he’s leaving and I have Edmonson’s subordinate (who speaks for Edmonson) saying he’s not.
How many times have you seen a story denied by official sources only to see it play out as accurate?
I reported what I consider solid reports from sources and I reported the denials.
Believe whom you wish.
The resignation is the storm before the Cat 4 hurricane!
Sent from my iPhone
Thanks for all your hard work Tom!
Until I got home and read this post I didn’t understand why Troopers all along I-20 in North Louisiana were in the median ground cutting donuts with all lights flashing. They are celebrating this great news. They see the LSP soon returning to an organization in which they can again be proud to serve. Certainly Troop F Troopers in Monroe will soon revel in having a new commander. More median ground donuts and flashing lights!!
Who would be the next Col? Any sources out there?
No idea but I’m told it won’t be Dupuy.
I don’t have a dog in this hunt: Rut Whittington, will clean this up.
I believe if you check you will find that Rutt Whittington was fired by Gov. Mike Foster some of the same issues Mike is accused of. I think it was around 2002. Terry Landry took over after Whittington was removed.
Tom Aswell, you made a difference in ensuring that this bottom feeder no longer ruled the fiefdom he created at the taxpayers expense. You along with Robert Burns stayed the course. The overrated mainstream media is still reluctant to carry a negative story about Mike Edmonson aka “Precious” You worked hard to simply tell the truth. The sad part is that I have absolutely no faith whatsoever in JBE to appoint a qualified successor as long as the LSA has a say. It will be business as usual. The entire situation is disgusting. The entire Department of Public Safety & Corrections needs a good enema. I just don’t see any elected officials standing in line with a hot water bag in hand.
Thanks for your kind words, Carl, and I agree totally.
I’m stunned that this is about two hours now and not a word from the Edwards camp! I mean show SOME leadership! Either put out a press release confirming Edmonson’s resignation or put out a release saying he remains! No strong leader is going to be afflicted with paralysis like this!!
My sources tell me Becket Breaux ….. Instresting.
Nothing will change with Becket Breaux. He was Chris Guillory’s supervisor and supported him 100%. He then targeted those at Troop D that he thought were the whistle blowers. He also supported Edmondson’s handling of Guillory’s situation remaining by Guillory’s side. Guillory is still there except that he was moved to B. R. and drives back and forth from Sulphur to B.R. If the governor wants to clean house, those two (Guillory and Breaux) need to go also.
Breaux has my vote!! I have met him, I don’t personally know him, but I am from Loreauville and have always known the Breaux family and I have always known them to be GREAT people. Plus he is a neighbor.
GEAUX BREAUX!!
Breaux might be a great man when he is not at work, but he comes down with a hammer of vengeance. He will do whatever it takes and his family’s money and his politically connected neighbor, failed governor and Senator, has not hurt his career. His position was created out of nothing and he used it to retaliate against troopers. He is as evil and dirty as Edmonson. Unless you live it, these people wear two masks. One for all to see and one unfortunately I got to see on my way. Out. He covered up crimes like everyone else. Look up Troop D on this blog. Breaux covered up those crimes. Edmonson can’t hold a candle to what happened there. We all heard what was going on over there.
Didn’t know this about Breaux, I’ve ways heard good things.
I told a good friend two hours ago that there was no way in hell that Edwards would let this go unaddressed any longer than 10 pm tonight. I can’t believe there’s only two minutes until that time and we’ve heard nothing, zilch, nada.
Either they are in total scramble mode or Edwards is mad as hell that he didn’t get to make this announcement on his terms.
Go back and re-read the updated post. Announcement of retirement pushed back to Monday.
Oops….That one is on me. As they say in basketball, “My bad.”
Well I must say I have my problems with Calcasieu Parish and Troop D as seen in this article below.
“hometown cooking!!”
http://www.soundoffla.com/?p=638
Update from a good source, the next Col. Will be a huge surprise.
I hope so. My vote would be LTC Adam White or Major Lane Barnum. Both are fine men with true Christian values. I believe they would serve the department well. They are also highly respected among the rank and file troopers. But any replacement not part of the FOM network would be huge for morale. And not just for LSP, but for the entire DPS agency.
The New Superintendent will have his hands full. Nine years of making a Monday a Sunday at the expense of tax payers and the Good Men and Women of the Department comes with a cost.
Major Becket Breaux is a Cajun Version of Mike Edmonson with deep ties to the Jindal Camp. He will allow Edmonson Cronies to stay in place, because Mike Edmonson and Charlie Dupuy saw to it that Breaux was promoted 3 times in eight years.
Whoever the Governor selects needs to be a man with a Iron Will that will move the Department from the Edmonson Fraternity style of leadership to that of a professional law enforcement agency. That being a leader able to make decisions with the big picture in mind and not for the fact of simple personal or political appeasement. This should show the public, that change in leadership is a good thing. When people like Edmonson, LeBlanc, and Cain remain in Power for too long, corruption, nepotism, cronyism will surface overtime.
Thank You Tom for staying the course.
Spencer, the phrase “true Christian values” gives me the heebie jeebies, because I’ve heard the words thrown around in reference to people who, by their actions, demonstrate their utter lack of Christian values. Having said that, I know nothing about White and Barnum. Both may be men of principle and character and excellent choices.
I stand corrected, and you’re right. I should have stated that in my personal interactions with both men, and I could mention others, never once did I witness either sway from doing the right thing, popular or not. Or from making a decision that upholds the true values and motto of LSP. In my opinion how one operates professionally can also be witnessed in their personal lives. I happen to know both are stellar men with or without their badges.
Others to mention, Major Flinchum, Capt. Richards, Capt. Barrett, David Ryerson. But there are others. Names escape me at this very minute. And I will concur with others. Becket is just another FOE that will continue to rule in ME’s style.
Lloyd Grafton has the integrity, training, and backbone for the job. Contract with him for 3 years to drain the swamp. And as an added bonus, he will not be intimidated by the Sheriffs.
If I’m not mistaken, the colonel must have graduated from the La State Police Academy and must be a captain or higher to be considered for that position. There are several great candidates that would be great for that position, they just have to make a honest effort to find him or her. The troopers know who would be be fair and honest. Trying to keep politics out of this is very tough. I can only imagine the back room deals that are going on this weekend. Thank you Tom and Robert and everyone involved for the hard work you put in to these investigations. I know numerous troopers whose lives were miserable because of these people. These were the troopers that wanted to do the right thing but were pushed aside for those who had their own personal agenda.
You appear to be correct. LA R.S. 36:405A(2) seems to spell that out pretty clearly to me:
http://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=92759
I’m not in favor of this type of restriction and firmly believe the statute, passed about 25 years ago, needs to be repealed,
You lie, you die, huh Colonel Edmondson & Colonel Dupuy? May you both get what you deserve!!
Mr. Aswell they made try to do what they done to me in Calcasieu Parish as seen in this article attached (Injunction Relief) which I still to this day believe is Unconstitutional. It’s a new way of covering up criminal behavior at high levels of Government. The use of flood victims taxpayer dollars to pay Attorneys to deny access to evidence for information, I was going to provide to the flood victims “what a shame”!!
Clearly not what you call transparency!!
http://www.soundoffla.com/?p=630#comment-494
Looks like you got bad info.
Looks like you got bad info. Maybe you just wanting it too much.
Maybe you should learn some basic English grammar prior to posting on a public blog. And, for what it’s worth, patience is a virtue.
There’s plenty more to uncover now that the LLA’s are on the trail. And never, ever, underestimate a man who’s been done wrong.
After he’s “out” (retired, resigned, etc) he’s liable to tell all. It’s coming (collaborating and such) and it won’t be pretty for Precious and his gang. What’s out there in state email? And if not in official state email? Is there a Hillary type email scandal about to explode? Perhaps. Many things can be taken back, electronic documents and emails however cannot. Hold on tight. It’s going to get all TMZ before too long.
Yes!! You’re correct!!! The only reason ME is retiring today is because Tom “wanting it too much”. Good for you!! Now go ahead and give yourself a huge pat on the back and carry on.
Seriously, you idiots post a photograph in which Mike’s wife was TAGGED in a photo. It was not something that she posted on her page and the “protect, serve but mostly drink” remark was the remark of the person that tagged her, not her words. Typical twisting of facts, should we believe the rest of what you post.
Yeah, we’re real idiots. Not being the type to hang around on Facebook or to post personal messages, we’re not really familiar with social media. So, I suppose that really makes us idiots.
But when you get right down to the bottom line, who was right about Edmonson?
I hope taxpayers aren’t paying for the retirement party.