The impromptu closed-door executive session followed by the ouster of this reporter for video recording Wednesday’s meeting of the Lafayette Fire and Police Civil Service Board has led to an investigation by the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office into potential violations of Louisiana's Open Meetings Law.
The Independent confirmed Friday morning with District Attorney Keith Stutes that an investigation will soon be launched into the board’s handling of Wednesday’s meeting.
The investigation is the result of the board’s improper executive session, which did not meet the state law requirements for public bodies to meet outside the view of the public.
The executive session wasn’t listed on the meeting’s agenda, as is required by law. Also, the board convened the executive session without first giving a reason for doing so. And finally, after allowing the public to return to the meeting, it took a protest from Advocate reporter Lanie Lee Cook before the board’s attorney, Candice Hattan, gave a reason for the closed-door session.
Hattan’s explanation still left much to be desired in terms of the requirements stipulated by Louisiana’s Open Meetings Law. Hattan said the executive session was to discuss 10 lawsuits, yet she cited only one of the alleged lawsuits discussed during the closed-door session.
Also at issue was the board’s decision to kick this reporter out of Wednesday’s meeting for recording the proceedings via cell phone. That too is a violation of state law (check it out for yourself here).
According to our conversation with Stutes earlier this morning [Friday], a formal response will be issued once his investigation is completed.
We’ll keep you posted.
In the meantime, read about this reporter’s experience at Wednesday’s meeting here. And for more on our reason for attending the meeting — specifically what some view as sub-par disciplinary action handed down by Police Chief Jim Craft to a Lafayette Police officer for a series of racist comments directed at African Americans — go here.