The Louisiana Board of Ethics will decide Thursday on a recommendation by a staff attorney that Carencro Police Chief Carlos Stout be barred from working private security details at venues and events within the city limits of the north Lafayette Parish town.
The Louisiana Board of Ethics will decide Thursday on a recommendation by a staff attorney that Carencro Police Chief Carlos Stout be barred from working private security details at venues and events within the city limits of the north Lafayette Parish town.
Stout requested the opinion from the agency on May 15:
We provide paid off duty details in which the scheduling and setting of hourly rates are administered by the Assistant Chief and command staff. The security is an open program where officers of all ranks can sign up to be scheduled to work the details while they are off duty. All officers working details are paid the same hourly rate no matter what their rank may be. Some examples of events that are worked are shopping centers football games community or civic centers and traffic details to name a few.
Considering that the Chief of Police does not have substantial economic interest which is of greater benefit to the public servant than to a general class or group of persons under these guidelines would the Chief of Police be allowed to work these details to help fill the vacancies that occur to honor the request from the prospective business owner or entity?
Citing prior rulings, Ethics Board attorney Brent Durham is recommending the board prohibit Stout from working private security details:
In Ethics Board Docket Nos. 1993-101 and 1999-129, the Board concluded that Section 1111C(1)(a) prohibits an elected chief of police from receiving compensation for working private security details within his jurisdiction. Thus, stating that the Chief of Police may not receive such compensation for private security details is consistent with prior opinions.
To read the opinion and associated documents, click here.