Call it the hangover effect, but the saga of Louisiana State Police (LSP), particularly Troop D in Lake Charles, just won’t go away.
A state district judge, basing his decision in large part on a series of LouisianaVoice stories, has ordered LSP to produce personnel records “within 10 days” of two Troop D State Troopers for a plaintiff in a lawsuit brought against State Police.
Emily Landers filed suit against LSP through the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and PPG Industries in connection with a Dec. 1, 2010, auto accident on I-10 in Calcasieu Parish.
Landers was driving on I-10 when her vehicle was struck by an electrical line that had fallen across both sides of the interstate. LSP already had several troopers onsite, she says in her petition, but they were sitting on the shoulder of the road with lights activated.
The troopers identified as potential witnesses included Jimmy Rogers, Derrick Cormier, Zack Matt and Paul Brady and Landers said that the credibility of each was at issue.
A second person also involved in a separate accident, John Heurtevant, said that Trooper Rogers’s testimony as to the location of his and Trooper Cormier’s units were situated and what the state knew at the time of the accident.
Landers requested the LSP policy and procedure manual, personnel files, including reprimands and internal investigations of Rogers, Cormier, Matt and Brady, and any information in the state’s possession regarding any road closure because of the electrical line.
LSP objected to the release of personnel files, claiming that the files did not relate to any matters involving the litigation. Landers’s attorney, Thomas Townsley, however, said in a Sept. 11 motion to compel that the credibility of the officers “is very relevant, and go to some of the core issues in this case.”
Townsley said that while the state would be relying on Rogers’s testimony to support its position that the state handled the emergency properly “despite the fact that most evidence discredits his testimony.”
Townsley said he had obtained information from LouisianaVoice “that demonstrates (sic) that Trooper Rogers has severe credibility, character, and integrity issues.”
Townsley also cited a second LouisianaVoice story which discussed State Police investigations of Capt. Chris Guillory, Brady and Rogers.
“Although the LouisianaVoice was denied access to Rogers’s records because the Louisiana State Police did not complete its investigation due to his resignation, sources report Rogers resigned after it was discovered he was committing payroll fraud on parish-funded overtime details known as Local Agency Compensated Enforcement (LACE).
“Rogers was reported issuing citation on his regular shift, but claiming them on different dates in order to accrue overtime,” Townsley said.
Townsley said he was also aware “of Trooper Jimmy Rogers filing a incident report with false information on it. Consequently, this information is very relevant regarding the character, honesty, and integrity of major witness/employee of the state who was allegedly negligent in this accident that led to the plaintiff’s accident and injuries.”
Judge Ronald Ware of the 14th Judicial District agreed.
In a two-page ruling dated Sept. 26, Judge Ware first denied the state’s motion for summary judgment (dismissal) and then granted Landers’s motion to compel.
Ware ordered that the troopers’ personnel files “which are to include, but not limited to, reprimands and internal investigation…to the court for an in camera (confidential) inspection within 10 days of the hearing. Upon the court’s review, a decision will be given on what should be redacted and what should be given to the plaintiff’s counsel.”
Louisiana Voice 
I guess we wait to see if anyone reports any smoke plumes from Baton Rouge at the city incinerator. The State Police has way too much invested in this cover up to let it go now. Retired Col. Edmonson, Captain Guillory, Internal Affairs, and the region Major, went out of their way to retaliate against Troop supervisors and regional troopers to facilitate the massive cover-up of criminal acts all reported by you Tom. It makes retirees like myself sick to see this stuff is still going on. We all knew it was being covered up, everyone in Baton Rouge was talking about it. It got so bad they unofficially transferred personnel away from that Troop to punish those who spoke the truth.
Your next story should be, where the Troop commander overseeing all this and his direct supervisor, where are they now? I hear they have all been moved around also, but not because they were truth tellers.
Once again we are hearing about integrity issues involving the once premier law enforcement agency of the State. How about the new job position of the overtime crook Rodent Hyatt. I hear he is of all things, the new evidence custodian? Boy, isn’t that a good place to assign a thief?
I also hear the flawless State Police Commission is relocating? I wonder what that is all about? Can’t be about LSP having their fingers in running the agency that is suppose to provide oversight could it?
Stay on ’em Tom!
My experience with Troop D, well when I reported GOHSEP/FEMA fraud. The first thing Troop D did was go sit down with the District Attorney’s Office which represents the Political Subdivision I reported (which I believe was to get their marching orders). Furthermore, when I got the documents from the District Attorney’s Office that “there was no wrong doing” I went to State Police and got the police report through a public records request. As seen in the attached video you will probably be blown away as I was to see the Detectives statements made in the interview about the fraud.
Here we go again! How can any judge in the Troop D area allow these and other Troopers involved in wrong-doing or cover up to raise their right hand and swear to tell, the truth,the whole truth and nothing but the truth? This Judge apparently has Honor, Integrity and respect for the law.
I would suggest that the Louisiana State Police need remedial training in honesty and integrity, starting with the COMMANDERS. An organization can never be corrupted from the bottom up, It has to come from the TOP down.
I have often made the analogy of courtroom trials being analogous to football games in that, while the action takes place on game day (the actual trial), plenty of advanced preparation goes on the week of the game in reviewing film, scouting the opponent’s prior game to spot weaknesses, etc. That portion of preparation for the courtroom is essentially what discovery is. Accordingly, by game day (the trial), it really shouldn’t come as any huge surprise who prevails.
Such is the case here, and it’s obvious the LSP Troopers, as players for us the taxpayers (because that’s who is liable for any ultimate judgment) constitute a collective weak left guard (easily exploited by the plaintiff’s attorney to stop our run game dead in its tracks), a weak center (easily exploited to put major pressure on the quarterback in obvious passing situations), a pair of weak cornerbacks who routinely blow coverage as depicted on film (easily exploited by a half decent quarterback on the plaintiff’s team). Through in our coach’s attempt to block discovery regarding their personnel files (football analogy of asking for a review of a play entailing likely targeting of a defenseless player), and I think you get a very good idea of who is likely to prevail on game day (the trial).
It is getting incredibly frustrating to see one trial after another in which Louisiana taxpayers are paying through the nose for the actions of arrogant and incompetent state employees and, more importantly, the culture at the top of agencies (e.g. LSP, Fire Marshall’s Office, etc.) that expose us to massive legal defense costs, not to mention ultimate judgments that may ensue from the civil lawsuits. Given what has emerged from this game film (i.e. the total lack of credibility these LSP Troopers will have on the witness stand), I think it behooves Jeff Landry to try and negotiate a settlement in short order. Perhaps he can argue contributory negligence on the part of Entergy or others and try to keep us taxpayers from having to pay through the nose more than we already have had to in defending these arrogant, incompetent people whom we entrusted with a high honor of wearing those badges.
The sheer number of lawsuits that has arisen is a sad indictment on the leadership of Bobby Jindal and, regrettably, Gov. Edwards has proven to be too timid and/or beholden to those perpetrating these offenses to take bold actions of removing these insidious cancers that permeate these agencies and continue to expose us to massive legal defense costs and potential massive judgments!
Very good points Mr.Burns.
As you openly mentioned, why hasn’t the Governor taken action on these kinds of issues?
Could it be that he needs every vote that he can rustle up to get himself re-elected again?
What he doesn’t realize is that the more he refuses to take action on matters such as this, the less votes he will receive next election. People aren’t stupid.
As far the cost, who cares, that is going to be picked up by all taxpayers. When a persons plate is full they rarely look around to see if others are empty. Very, very rarely!
I think it would have made more sense if that money could have been spent in better places such as education, fair health care cost for all, infrastructure, etc.
Oh, well, just another day in the Political Arena, so remember everyone keep work hard. Whatever you do, please don’t forget to pay your taxes!!!