This Whole Story Stinks

[Five-0]

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2...spended_i.html



Causeway cops suspended in Mandeville mayor case

by Christine Harvey, The Times-Picayune Friday May 23, 2008, 2:01 PM


John Mccusker / The Times-PicayuneCauseway Police Chief Felix Loicano suspended two officers in connection with a traffic stop of Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price. Sgt. Chris Dupont, who called Liocano the night of the incident, was demoted to corporal and suspended for three days. Officer Chad Dorsett received a one day suspension.
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway officials have disciplined both officers involved in the controversial traffic stop of Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price last month.
One of the officers who stopped Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price last month on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway has been demoted and faces a three-day suspension for failing to test Price for alcohol after he crashed through a toll booth barrier and continued to drive with no headlights.
Sgt. Chris Dupont, a 10-year veteran with the Causeway Police Department, will drop one rank to corporal and his pay will be reduced accordingly, Loicano announced Friday afternoon. His suspension includes the temporay loss of his take-home vehicle and the ability to work overtime or paid details during that pay period.
Raymond Burkart, Dupont's attorney, said he does not feel the punishment fits the crime, calling Loicano's decision "an egregious abuse of disciplinary discretion." He said he plans to ask Loicano to reconsider his decision and would like another law enforcement agency to conduct a separate investigation into the matter.
"If, in fact, the powers that be choose to call in the State Police to assist in truly investigating independently the matter, we can only hope that any wrongdoing by any party is dealt with swiftly and appropriately," Burkart said.
Officer Chad Dorsett, who worked the stop with Dupont, will be suspended for one day and lose his take-home car privilege as well as the ability to work overtime or paid details during that pay period. Loicano also chose to extend Dorsett's probationary period by an additional six months, as Dorsett has been with the department for only a few months.
The suspensions begin June 1, Loicano said.
Loicano's decision in the matter comes one day after the men participated in an administrative hearing to determine whether the officers had neglected their duty as police officers when they stopped Price just after midnight in April 23.
The officers stopped Price at the first crossover, about three miles from Mandeville, and the mayor admitted he had been drinking. Price also said he couldn't remember hitting the toll booth barrier, but the officers declined to ticket him or administer a field sobriety test, as required by the department's policy manual. The officers then allowed Price to call someone to drive him home.
Two weeks later, the agency cited Price with careless driving, and Price said afterward that he would pay the ticket and for the damage to the gate.
Based upon the totality of the facts, Loicano said the officers should have subjected Price to a field sobriety test. By failing to do so, the officers violated departmental procedure with regard to investigating suspected intoxicated drivers.
Dupont, the supervisor on duty that night, neglected his duty by failing to supervise a thorough and complete investigation into the incident, while Dorsett did so by failing to conduct a complete and thorough investigation.
Loicano initiated an internal investigation into the matter after receiving a call May 1 from Rafael Goyeneche, president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission. Goyeneche has said he called Loicano because he had heard about the accident and wondered whether the investigation had been as thorough as possible.

[Willowdared]

Sgt. Chris Dupont, who called Liocano the night of the incident, was demoted to corporal and suspended for three days. Officer Chad Dorsett received a one day suspension.

Sounds like he called his boss the night it happened - boss sounds like he's pussin' out.

[Ducky]

Sounds like he called his boss the night it happened - boss sounds like he's pussin' out.

"Chief, we just pulled over the mayor... he's drunker than two skunks and can't form complete sentences. Seeing as how it's a delicate political situation, as the two of you are drinking buddies, what do you want us to do?" "Ah hell, call his wife to come get his ass."

PDawg, you called it right on the nose, I think.

[mavriktu]

I know Chad quite well I can assure you,the arrest would have been made if Chad had his way.He has been with Causeway for only a month or two and possibly is still FTO.He worked for a dept within our jurisdiction and was very professional.

[sweetpea]

This does stink, your damned of you do and damned if you don't.