LouisianaVoice has been informed that State Fire Marshal Butch Browning has been summoned to a meeting in the governor’s office next week.
There was no immediate indication what that meeting will be about but if the report is accurate, there are a couple of items the administration may wish to ask Browning about:
- Why did the office of State Fire Marshal (SFM) spend $4,649 in May 2015 to “up fit” the office’s special food service trailer for the purpose of supporting “events and emergencies with equipment for field food services when necessary,” but when the August 2016 flood struck South Louisiana, SFM agents say they had to fend for themselves because that food service trailer was nowhere to be found?
- Why did the SFM spend $4,900 in May 2015 as a deposit for LR3 Consulting of Baton Rouge to create a website for Louisiana Firefighter Proud when Louisiana Firefighter Proud is a private entity not affiliated with any state agency?
- Why is it that the SFM claims to have no record of purchasing drones for $7,500 each from a New York vendor when SFM agents insist they were purchased and training records for at least one SFM deputy lists an eight-hour course in drone training and safety compliance?
LouisianaVoice has attempted—unsuccessfully—to obtain answers to these questions.
When I inquired into the 10 washers and 10 dryers and the drones, I received the following response from the SFM’s legal department:
From: (Name redacted by LouisianaVoice)
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2017 9:11 AM
To: Tom Aswell <azspeak@cox.net>
Subject: PRR: Louisiana Voice Request dated 8/8/17
Mr. Tom Aswell
PRR: Louisiana Voice Request dated 8/8/17
SFN: 00000-77
Dear Mr. Aswell:
With regard to the email below, your request to view ten clothes washers and dryers, the Office of State Fire Marshal has no washers and/or dryers at 8181 Independence Blvd., Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Additionally, in your request you asked for receipts for four drones from B&H of New York at approximately $7,500 each. No such documents exist.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Best Regards,
(Name redacted by LouisianaVoice)
Office of State Fire Marshal
8181 Independence Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
So, if those washers and dryers are not at 8181 Independence Blvd. (SFM headquarters), where exactly are they and why can’t I be allowed to view them?
I posed that follow up question to the SFM’s office but have yet to receive a response.
It took a former employee of the SFM to clear up that little mystery. The washers and dryers, he explained, were not purchased but leased from Broad Base Service and Rentals in Harvey for $4,999.99, one cent below the minimum purchase amount that requires quotes from vendors. They were rented, he said, to wash the uniforms of deputies working the August 2016 flood of South Louisiana. The September 6 transaction date would seem to substantiate that explanation.
That same individual said he, too, had heard that Browning had been notified to appear at the governor’s office next week.
He also said no one at SFM is minding the store as concerns purchases on the state credit card. “You’re on the right track in checking those credit care purchases. There is absolutely no control over the expenditures in that office.”
I did receive a response to some of other public records requests, namely training certificates for four deputy fire marshals.
Without naming the individuals, I can say that some of the training courses appear to have little to do with inspections of amusement rides, boilers, nursing homes, hospitals, jails, or mobile homes, all of which are part of the SFM’s responsibilities.
In other states, each of those areas would be assigned to deputies specifically trained in those respective areas but in Louisiana, deputies under Browning are “cross-trained,” meaning they are expected to be proficient—and certified—in all inspection disciplines.
In examining the record of one deputy, I found a certificate for an eight-hour course in “Law Enforcement Chaplaincy” from an organization identified on his certificate as Compassion Ministries.
While this is by no means meant to disparage a deputy’s faith, there appears to be little connection between that certificate and building, ride, boiler or fire inspections or investigations.
I also found certificates for all four for such courses as ethics, preventing sexual harassment and defensive driving. As one who has taken each of these courses during my 20 years with the state, I can attest to their absolute uselessness—with the possible exception of the ethics course, which is only slightly more comprehensive. Still, those courses appear to be of little benefit to a SFM deputy working in the field, investigating fires, inspecting buildings, rides, and boilers.
Conversely, there were courses listed in that make it appear that Browning is attempting to turn the fire marshal’s office into a full-blown police force on a par with State Police:
- Drug enforcement training (16 hours);
- Narcotics investigations (48 hours);
- Hostage negotiation (four hours);
- Military police training (a five-month course);
- Traffic radar operation (four hours);
- Advanced criminal patrol tactics (eight hours);
- Chemical weapons familiarization (four hours);
- Use and handling of stringer spike strip systems (one hour);
- Shotgun familiarization (four hours);
- Drugged driver detection (four hours)
- Chemical testing for intoxication (16 hours);
- Police driving (24 hours);
- Taser certification (four hours);
- Unspecified FEMA training;
- Introduction to cultural diversity.
By contrast there were courses that seemed to be a bit more relevant, though the four deputies whose records we reviewed did all not seem to have the advantage of taking the same courses:
- Effective Investigation and Testimony (three hours);
- Investigating Fatal Fires (four hours);
- Commercial Building Code Fundamentals;
- Hazardous Materials Awareness (four hours);
- Firestop Seminar (three hours);
- Sprinkler Seminar (three hours)
- National Electrical Code Seminar (16 hours);
- Scientific Method of Fire and Explosion Investigation (three hours);
- Electrical Safety (three hours);
- Residential Electrical Investigation for the Fire Investigator (24 hours);
- Post Blast Investigators School (40 hours);
- Critical Thinking Solves Cases (four hours);
- Investigating Natural Gas Systems (three hours);
- Investigation of Commercial Kitchen Fires (eight hours);
- Residential Natural Gas Systems (three hours).
While there were records of only four deputies to review, it seemed odd that for a department stressing cross-training as does the SFM, there were no courses listed in boiler inspections, amusement ride inspections, nursing home or hospital inspections, or mobile home inspections for any of the individuals.
Louisiana Voice 
Let’s also see information on Brant Thompson’s uniform purchases! Why does he have a new uniform every day? Also–can we get info on his vehicle? We need public records request on his mileage and just where he’s going everyday. Seeing as how much work is not being done in that corner office.
Other than sending “internal affairs” Chris Anderson to investigate who’s giving information AKA the truth to the media. Let’s follow Chris Anderson for a few days. See exactly what his day consists of.
Anderson loves to ride around Livingston in his blacked out tahoe working as a reserve officer for the Town of Livingston. I wonder if Butch signed off on that.
Wonder? Who is in charge?
You must have missed the Thompson Uniform Care training course! Now that was entertaining. You may be able to find one or two deputies still there who had that training with their first blue over blue uniforms.
Tom–
Courses like sexual harassment & ethics are required by all state employees. We’re forced to take them.
About all other courses, however–you have a point!
Waste of time and money. A four month military police course?? Ridiculous! This MAYBE a P.O.S.T. course but doesn’t sound like it. Sounds like another Thompson decision. He’s a complete idiot and lacks all common sense.
We must rid the state of any Thompson.
Look at where the training is going! The state fire marshal spends millions in useless training and then loses the staff because of mismanagement. SFM lost another deputy today because of that. The third one we’ve lost this year who had gained knowledge on their own and was forced out because they didn’t fit Brant Thompson’s agenda – didn’t look the part and didn’t act the part.
Pull records, trainings, and files and see how many of these deputies are still around in Area 3 and across the state. They’ve all left! Now look at the training the current deputies have. NONE.
From what I understand, these deputies left because of extremely low pay, and not *solely* because of Chief Deputy Thompson.
With that said, think about this — we can break down just what the salary should/could be.
Fire Inspectors – MEDIAN income in Louisiana (from Google) is $53,764.
Fire Investigator – MEDIAN income in Louisiana (from Google) is $53,990.
Hospital Inspector – MEDIAN income in Louisiana (from Google) is $48,879.
NAARSO Inspector – AVERAGE income nationwide (from Google) is $68,401.
Boiler Inspector – AVERAGE income nationwide (from Google) is $59,024.
$57,011.60 is the average of all of those combined.
Yet, SFM Browning & his executive staff & special services make WELL over $80k+ to begin with, while his line/rank & file deputies are making just under $42k.
Thompson may be a ridiculous, overbearing, overpaid, racist bigot, but I know if I was being paid close to $60k, I would keep up with his garbage for a few more years until I can retire.
That’s the funny part as a SR Deputy most only make a little over 42,500 a year.
Shame on you! You deserve to stay in this hell hole & get your 60k but sell your soul.
Your comment is spot on. The salary of a New Orleans Fire Investigator is around 62k average. Remember that is him doing ONE job; not investigating plus inspecting, learning licensing, & installing smoke detectors.
I have never seen another organization that cares so little about its employees more than the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal. Ask any deputy what that office has done for them in 5 years and then listen to the crickets. Raises? Sure, but only if you have a corner office or a brown nose. They want them to show up to their office with boots shined and uniforms starched but the sorry ……… can’t even manage to get their employees a simple uniform allowance increase. They hold a big dog and pony show with the idea that it builds camaraderie and prestige in the office but all it really is for is to let Brant and Butch get they’re rocks off as they imagine they are some sort of Patton type figure.
ThompsonFan101 – you are a black eye on public service. Obviously we don’t do this job for $$$$$$ but have been subjected to all of the atrocities of the Browning, Thompson, Wallace, Carruth regime. Keep your garbage & hope it goes down smooth when you swallow
What has Wallace ever done?
You continue to work there for 40 but complain when someone says they’ll work for 60. You sound like a Thompson fanatic on here to make fake drama.
How many deputies inspecting amusement rides are NAARSO certified? The same amusement rides at all school fairs & amusement parks in LA that the general public let their children ride. Ask for the certifications. Did any of those four deputies inspect amusement rides & were they NAARSO certified?
I believe there are only 3 deputies at SFM who have NAARSO certifications. Browning and Thompson ran off all the others. Of the 3 remaining NAARSO certified deputies, none supervise field deputies. Which raises another question, if current supervision is not NAARSO certified, how can they be qualified to determine if a deputy under their command can perform a competent amusement ride inspection?
It is my understanding that several deputies had formally requested to attend several training opportunities in order to gain NAARSO certifications, and were denied.
The previous Louisiana law required the individual inspecting the amusement ride to be NAARSO certified. Therefore, SFM has clearly been violating Louisiana rules and laws for years. SFM claims to enforce this Louisiana law because SFM is “not ready” to enforce the current law. (But, I’m sure someone else could explain this much better than me…)
Yet, ALL SFM deputies are required to conduct amusement ride inspections – without any formal training or certifications. If a deputy voices their concern about their lack of knowledge on inspecting amusement rides, they are disciplined for being insubordinate.
If someone gets injured on an amusement ride, those same deputies – that lack knowledge on how to inspect them – are sent out to investigate the incident. (If you don’t know how to inspect the ride, how do you expect the deputy to differentiate between the amusement ride malfunctioning/equipment failure, operator error, or if the person on the amusement ride was not riding it properly?)
And that same deputy who’s inspecting those amusement rides may have gotten called out to work a fire the night before and/or the morning of those amusement ride inspections, after spending the previous day(s) conducting other inspections – they may not be qualified to do – at daycares, schools, jails, hospitals, nursing homes, etc.
This is the Browning/Thompson “cross training” method, designed and destined for failure.
Ok deputies. … who is NAARSO certified?
Mark Jewett told me that out of things that could go wrong with cross training amusements would be the one that gets an inspector locked up. How long until we have an ohio amusement incident on our hands?
I still have to call one NARSO certified deputy to help make sure i am doing and I fear for the day that they run him off from this office.
Please find 1 NAARSO certified LOSFM deputy who would allow his/her child to ride an amusement ride at one of the many parish fairs or even state fair inspected by a non-NAARSO LOSFM deputy? (FYI Their last name cannot be Browning, Thompson, Carruth or Robichaux). PLEASE
Anyone?
Maybe 1?
Just 1 maybe?
There are 3 Deputies that are NAARSO certified, one in Monroe, one in BR and one in Denham. When cross-training was implemented, there was one training class held in New Orleans taught by NAARSO certified Deputies. After that, supervisors would conduct onsite training for one day and then send the Deputy out on his own. The same supervisors who knew nothing about Amusement Ride inspections or any other discipline. We were told that we would get he certification but when the time came to attend class, no one was able to go.
Wait sorry – don’t think any of those people (Browning, Thompson, Carruth or Robichaux) ever go to an amusement park site unless some poor person gets injured & maybe the LOSFM has to answer for it.
Anyone – does a deputy such as this exist?
Mike and Charles Dupuy aren’t there to protect and intimidate anymore. I see a retirement and resignation forthcoming. Thanks Tom for staying the Course. Where is that Honor Code? Too many hold overs from Jindal!!!!!
Tom,
I’d like to think Butch was being summoned to the principal’s office to explain his actions, get a good chewing out or maybe even to discuss his departure. But we all know it will most likely be a brainstorming of spin doctors to come up with plausible explanations for the insanity brought to light here and much of the conversation will be about identifying and crucifying those leaking the truth to a public forum. I know many are hopeful this will unfold to be a repeat of what we saw with Edmonson, but don’t look for that to happen right away. With all due respect to LouisianaVoice and the more than 3000 followers, it’s not the blindsided, camera in your face interview Lee Zurik did. Nothing sweeter than seeing Edmonson standing alone, sweating and stuttering while looking for answers to questions he wasn’t expecting, and all on TV. But hey, just like that story, you gotta start somewhere and we all thank you for that.
Let’s just say we work in the most hostile working environment in state government. If you ever express concern over management practices or policies you are targeted for termination and misery.
For years we have been summoned to Baton Rouge or Gonzales (at a cost of ens of thousands of dollars) to here Butch Browning sing the praises of his administration. His sermon always includes the following:
1. The OSFM should promote from within. The reality is people like Brant Thompson, Dan Wallace, Bob Wolfe, Dean Smith and others like them just show up one day. They show up with high rank, high salaries and control over career life safety specialist and investigators. They show up in new state issued Tahoes and with no oversight. No experience, education or training needed.
2. Once again this year there is a state budget crisis and there will be no merit pay increases for the rank and file personnel. However, be thankful for this administration because we don’t have to lay any of you off this year. The reality is that he (Browning) and Thompson each received raises of $30,000 to $40,000. He also hand picked some employees (Wolfe, Brent) and others to receive large pay increases. How many millions will this add to the state retirement system during their decades of retirement? For the decade that Browning has been in charge at OSFM the rank and file employees have received one, ONE merit pay increase (4.5%). Not enough to cover the health insurance premium increase that year. Meanwhile, money is spent on new Tahoes, drones, coins, trips, cooking equipment, dinners and anything else that can be bought or put on the state Visa cars. All of these raises and expenditures made while the governor is on television touting the largest state budget deficit in history.
3. Cross training. Cross training has saved the OSFM and is the envy of state governments everywhere. The reality is Browning cannot name another agency anywhere that has implemented it. He has turned his inspectors into jacks of all trades with commitment to nothing. Cross training has brought us an agency full of POST certified personnel. The majority of which have NEVER arrested a single person. The OSFM has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars sending personnel to POST and then many thousands more keeping up training every year to maintain it. We have explosive detection dogs all over the state that don’t detect many, if any, explosives. On the bright side of cross training, the OSFM Air Force will soon be back in the sky. After crashing beyond repair the first fleet of drones, a new squadron has been delivered ($30,000+) and pilots are in training!
Finally, there are a couple of things I have learned during my tenure at OSFM. One is that these high ranking, high paying jobs are not created for us. They are created for the sons of state senators and those politically connected to them. You cannot put in an application or interview for them and you cannot work, train, educate, dedicate or earn your way into one. Senator Thompson and his colleagues have hundreds of family members and close friends on the state payroll and they will do anything to protect them. Secondly, Butch Browning has survived two governors despite his lack of morals, ethics or honesty. Unfortunately, the best-case scenario is Browning is shown the door. I say unfortunately because that still leaves us with Brant Thompson. After all, Thompson is the person that has cultivated most of the misery experienced by all the little people at OSFM.
Tom,
Interesting email this morning. Apparently 7 LOSFM inspectors were sent to get their FAA drone license last week. Now they can operate those $7,500 drones that have no paperwork over fires and hopefully not crash them into them like a recently promoted New Orleans supervisor did. Also interesting was the crew that certified was comprised of glorified secretaries who don’t even come to fire scenes unless it means getting to be in front a camera.
In his meeting with Butch, the Governor should also ask what powers the LOSFM has. With such a tight budget, should LOSFM deputies really be burrowing through countless man hours on negligent injury and contractor fraud cases (neither under the purview of the fire marshal) and in which cases neither the Feliciana sheriff’s department nor contractor board bothered to pursue? The same with negligent charging of a nurse with 70 counts of cruelty of the infirm.
Soon enough Brant will have radar guns and a fire marshal deputy under every overpass writing tickets. This office needs a gut check, governor and you’re the only one to give it to them.
Let’s not be ridiculous here.
Stacy Rand- glorified secretary? She’s not even qualified to clean the toilets.
We’ve spent $52k on DRONES? And all of the “pilots” are special services employees? L. O. L. Those employees never leave the office unless they’re at Hooters or Piccadilly having a three hour lunch! (Ahem…Chris Anderson and Bob Wolfe)
When are we pulling public record requests on Brant Thompson’s qualifications, certifications, and training. People call him a “doc” yet no one has seen a PhD certificate.
I believe Butch Browning can be a great leader if he didn’t let the cancerous Thompson disease his mind.
LouisianaVoice has made a formal request for all of Thompson’s certifications.
You have got to be joking right? Great leaders do not have sexual relations with a subordinate’s spouse & then run & hide like a baby when the subordinate shows up at LOSFM HQ with his state issued weapon – great leaders do not lie – they do not inappropriately spend state funds. We could all go on and on and on with what great leaders do not do. No Browning can never be a great leader – there is no respect left & he has no honor
Butch has never been a good leader. A good leader does not rearrange the office to reward yes men and punish those with more knowledge than him. A good leader does not brag about getting rid of people he did not like. A good leader does not ignore a male supervisor who constantly harasses the female deputies. A good leader does not allow millions of dollars of talent walk out the door because they cannot take the horrible conditions of that office. A good leader respects his employees and listens to them when they all have the same complaints. A good leader does not lie. A good leader does not try to turn the office into something that it is not supposed to be.
Butch Browning has never and will never be a great leader.
Before one bashes Dean Smith, you should know who he is. Dean is a long tenured law enforcement officer and supervisor who cares more about his subordinates that himself. Dean has more law enforcement knowledge than most of the LSFMO staff combined. Dean Smith has more compassion, conviction and generosity than most people I had ever met. If you want to talk about Dean Smith let’s talk about when he would go to work on his own time for free to help out because the shift was short-handed. Or the time he gave away a vehicle he owned because someone had lost everything and the man needed it more than he did. Or the time he stood up to executive managers of an agency he worked for because of unfair practices that affected the family lives of his subordinates. Let’s face it, the SFMO doesn’t have a lot of experienced officers and lack leadership and training. Dean Smith is a great addition to the SFMO and if you all will give him a chance he will prove it!!
Those are all wonderful attributes. But what you don’t address is how they transfer to his qualifications as a deputy fire marshal. What experience does he have in that field? He is experienced in law enforcement and the fire marshal’s office is not supposed to be a law enforcement agency; it’s an agency that conducts inspections and investigates fires.
deputies conduct complex fire investigations, believe me law enforcement experience is a plus …have you every seen a fire fighter on the stand…hard to watch
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is a Law Enforcement Agency that carries out a law enforcement function for the State of Louisiana, and Public Health & Safety pursuant codes designed to protect human life and property. I applaud your quest to expose corruptive acts in Public government, but that quest is often derailed when you are not producing complete and accurate facts!!! Dean Smith is a highly trained law enforcement officer and was an experienced SWAT operator for the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. The notion that he tripped and had an accidental discharge that paralyzed a subject is absolutely false. That suspect walked into a church and murdered his family, fled and barricaded himself. Dean Smith is the SWAT operator who confronted the armed suspect,engaged the suspect and eliminated the threat. Again, I applaud your quest, but I strongly encourage you to get factual information rather that rumors.