Louisiana

Civil rights investigation finds pattern of excessive force by Louisiana State Police

Published

11 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Civil rights investigation finds pattern of excessive force by Louisiana State Police

The Louisiana State Police for years have used excessive force during arrests and vehicle pursuits, a statewide pattern of misconduct that places the public at “serious risk of harm,” according to a scathing report released Thursday by the U.S. Justice Department.

A broad civil rights inquiry, announced in 2022 following an Associated Press investigation, found troopers’ use of stun guns “particularly concerning,” and that troopers have used force on people who “do not pose a threat or a flight risk,” often because they are restrained. It cited “systemic failures in supervision” and “chronic underreporting of force.”

“We also found that troopers use excessive force to immediately control encounters, often within the first few moments of encountering a person and without giving the person a warning or an opportunity to comply,” the report said. “Additionally, LSP uses excessive force on people who run from troopers, even when that person is only suspected of a misdemeanor.”

The findings were released two days after federal prosecutors said they would not bring charges in the deadly 2019 arrest of Black motorist Ronald Greene, ending a lengthy probe into the white state troopers who stunned, punched and dragged Greene on a roadside following a high-speed chase outside Monroe, Louisiana.

Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, blasted the report as an attempt “to diminish the service and exceptionality of LSP.”

“We will not let that happen,” Landry said in a statement. “The reputation of our men and women in blue is one of respect, admiration and appreciation, and we will always have their back.”

Col. Robert Hodges, the state police superintendent, told troopers in an internal email obtained by AP that the “isolated incidents” highlighted in the report “are not a fair assessment of today’s Louisiana State Police or our agency’s incredibly proud history and culture.”

The “pattern-or-practice” inquiry followed AP reporting that found Greene’s arrest was among at least a dozen cases in which state troopers and their bosses ignored or concealed evidence of beatings, deflected blame and impeded efforts to root out misconduct in the agency. In one case, a white trooper pummeled a Black man 18 times with a flashlight following a traffic stop, leaving him with a broken jaw, broken ribs and a gash to his head.

The state police withheld body-camera footage of Greene’s death for two years, but the AP published it in 2021. The video showed troopers swarming Greene even as he appeared to raise his hands, plead for mercy and wail, “I’m your brother! I’m scared! I’m scared!” Troopers repeatedly jolted Greene with stun guns before he could even get out of the car, with one of them wrestling him to the ground, putting him in a chokehold and punching him in the face. Another called him a profanity.

The 32-page report alleges that Greene’s death “demonstrated serious failures” that “were not isolated but part of a larger pattern or practice of law enforcement conduct that deprives people in Louisiana of their rights under the Constitution.”

The report cites one case in which a trooper “slammed a bar patron to the ground” merely for failing to provide his ID quickly enough. “Rather than explaining the reason for the request or trying to persuade the man to cooperate,” the report says, “the trooper immediately grabbed the man’s arm and forced him to the ground, injuring his nose.”

The Justice Department also examined whether state police engage in “racially discriminatory policing” but made no findings “at this time” as to whether that contributed to the misconduct.

The report recommends — but does not mandate — a long list of remedial measures, while also crediting the agency with making ”much-needed reforms after video of Mr. Greene’s death became public.”

“More reforms are needed to remedy the unlawful conduct we found,” the report says.

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Louisiana

Roundup: Leaders for a Better Louisiana / State Police / UnitedHealth

Published

3 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

Taking shape: Leaders for a Better Louisiana, the new organization that formed from the merger of the Council for a Better Louisiana and the Committee of 100 for Economic Development, on Friday announced its officers and board members for 2025. Heather Poole, who previously served as the chair of CABL, and Phillip Rozeman, who previously served as the vice chair and chair-elect of C100, will serve as Better Louisiana’s co-chairs. The organization also announced the election of Scott Ballard as chair-elect, Robert Schneckenburger as secretary and Spencer Martin as treasurer.

Excessive force: The Louisiana State Police for years have used excessive force during arrests and vehicle pursuits, a statewide pattern of misconduct that places the public at “serious risk of harm,” according to a scathing report released Thursday by the U.S. Justice Department. Read more from The Associated Press.

Aftermath: Despite earnings that beat analysts’ expectations, UnitedHealth Group shares dropped after it reported higher medical costs in the fourth quarter. The health care company discussed the results in a call that was its first public event since the assassination of Brian Thompson last month. Thompson ran the company’s insurance unit, the nation’s largest. The call was a delicate communications challenge, as the company’s leaders had to reassure investors of its current and future financial performance while also contending with negative public scrutiny and the loss of a “widely liked” executive. Read more from The Wall Street Journal.

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Louisiana

Justice Department says Louisiana State Police violate the constitutional rights of people it encounters

Published

19 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Press Room

Justice Department says Louisiana State Police violate the constitutional rights of people it encounters

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department says the Louisiana State Police engages in practices that violate the constitutional rights of people with whom it interacts.

Findings announced after a “pattern and practice investigation” Thursday afternoon said the agency routinely uses excessive force, including the unjustified use of Tasers, and escalates minor incidents involving people who do not pose a threat. The entire report is available at the Justice Department website.

Among other findings, the Justice Department said the agency uses unreasonable force without warning and without giving people an opportunity to comply with directions. It also found troopers used force on people in handcuffs and on people accused only of misdemeanors.

In a brief statement issued with its report, the Justice Department noted the agency is reforming itself and has made changes in its use-of-force policy, but it says more work must be done.

Gov. Jeff Landry said the report “seeks to diminish the service and exceptionality” of the State Police.

“We will not let that happen,” Landry said, without offering specifics. “The reputation of our men and women in blue is one of respect, admiration, and appreciation, and we will always have their bac.”

Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement that the U.S. Justice Department was acting to advance a political agenda and did not address the agency’s actual findings.

“We will continue to ensure that LSP is the finest law enforcement organization in the country and have a deep respect and appreciation for all of Louisiana’s law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line for the citizens of our great State each and every day and they have our steadfast support,” she said.

The Justice Department has been looking at the State Police since 2022. The report comes just after the department said it would not file criminal charges following the death of motorist Ronald Greene.

The investigators laid the blame on poor supervision of troopers, noting that the agency doesn’t do meaningful reviews following the use of force. It also said training modules “encourage aggressive behavior and escalate encounters.”

The report’s executive summary details Greene’s traffic stop in northern Louisiana on May 19, 2019. Police chased Greene for 14 minutes until he crashed, then punched him, dragged him by his ankles and left him face down in the road.

When a supervisor arrived, he stepped over Greene and checked on how the officers were doing. “None of the troopers rendered aid to Mr. Greene, who became unresponsive and died before he reached the hospital,” the report said.

“Mr. Greene’s death and its aftermath demonstrated serious failures at LSP — excessive force, improper supervision, ineffective training, and breakdowns in accountability,” the report said. “These failures were not isolated, but part of a larger pattern or practice of law enforcement conduct that deprives people in Louisiana of their rights under the Constitution.”

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Louisiana

Missing Teen In Henderson: Help Locate Maria Baltazar Perez

Published

1 day ago

January 16, 2025

Press Room

Missing Teen In Henderson: Help Locate Maria Baltazar Perez

Louisiana officials are seeking the public’s help in finding a missing teenager, according to KATC.

According to officials with the Henderson Police Department, a young woman, new to this country and our area, is missing.

What Do Police Know At This Time?

Henderson Police say Maria Baltazar Perez is a 16-year-old young woman whose friends and family say they have not seen her.

Where Was The Teenager Last Seen?

The girl relocated from Guatemala and was last seen at her home in the 100 block of Leblanc Drive in Henderson on Tuesday, January 14, at around 10 o’clock that night. The school called when Maria, who had been staying with family friends, did not show up for school. Authorities were not contacted until 3:35 p.m.

Henderson Police officials described the teenager as being five feet, five inches tall, and she is said to weigh about 170 pounds.

What Can You Do To Help?

If you know anything about this case or Perez’s whereabouts, you are urged to call the Henderson Police Department at 337-228-2065.

This is a developing story, and the KPEL News Team is working to provide additional coverage for Acadiana. Updates will be shared as they become available, so download the KPEL News app via Google Play or in the App Store and subscribe to breaking news alerts to get the latest information sent directly to your mobile device.

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Be sure to bookmark our latest site, wearelafayette.net, where we provide more local news coverage as well as lifestyle and community features.

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Gallery Credit: Abby Monteil

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