(Updated) Council gets ready for chief's departure

PATTERSON — Mayor Rodney Grogan and city council members are working to put new procedures in place before Police Chief Patrick LaSalle’s sixth term ends.

City council members approved the introduction of an ordinance to adopt a salary of $4,000 per month for a police chief appointed or elected to fill a vacancy during Tuesday’s council meeting.

LaSalle’s term ends in approximately 27 months. But he is eligible for retirement Sept. 11, which means he could choose to leave before his term ends.

LaSalle said at the July 18 Unity in the Community rally that he won’t run for re-election.

Grogan wanted to be proactive with the council about introducing an ordinance to adopt a police chief salary appointed or elected to fill a vacancy.

“We need not just actually sit and wait for that date because we have certain things that this charter requires us to do,” Grogan said.

According to the charter, the city has 15 days to appoint an interim chief of police. And if the appointment isn’t made within the timeframe, the governor will in 30 days.

“We’re being proactive simply because he’s approaching retirement,” Grogan said.

While there are requirements in the charter specifically for the chief of police, there is nothing in the charter pertaining to an interim chief or an interim chief’s pay.

City attorney Russel Cremaldi recommended that if the mayor and council believe that someone new should not receive the current chief’s salary of $84,000 plus $6,000 supplemental pay, then an ordinance should be adopted to set the salary. And it needs to be done before the appointment.

Councilwoman Sandra Turner asked if the appointed person could stand for regular election.

According the charter, the person appointed can run for the seat, Cremaldi said. But the appointed person cannot run in the special election.

Grogan calculated an average close to $49,000 from the top salaries at the police department.

Although the city has requirements for a police chief, the state of Louisiana requires that you stay accredited, LaSalle said.

“So you also, if you won the election, have to go to schools and keep that accreditation,” LaSalle said. “So, that’s one of the things that needs to be known for any future chiefs of police.

“It’s not that you’re just 21, you have to be certified because it puts the city in a position of jeopardy if I take the wrong action … without the certification.”

The elected chief has a certain time period to get Peace Officer Standards and Training-certified. A chief can still operate as an uncertified chief.

But without P.O.S.T. certification, he or she couldn’t carry a gun. LaSalle suggested to council that an appointed chief be certified.

The state-mandated certifications stirred up concerns about appointing a qualified chief among council members.

“Something keeps ringing in my ear when he said the qualifications of the state,” Turner said.

“You are, right now, in the right place putting those things there,” Grogan said, “because everything is so vague and the interpretation could be perceived by people in different ways.”

A chief without a certification is a great risk to the city’s pocketbook, LaSalle said.

The council will discuss at a later time police chief qualifications and possibly setting a new salary schedule for the elected position.

The council also approved:

—Introduction of an ordinance to adopt a golf cart license fee of $80 for golf carts used on public roads. The permit is on a calendar year basis, beginning January 1 and ending December 31.

The fee amount allocated toward registration and signage is $60 and $20 for the permit.

In addition, all requirements of the state must be adhered to, Grogan said.

—Psychological evaluations for new hires in law enforcement to be added to the employee handbook.

—No light duty for the police and garbage and sewerage departments with the exception of the administration.

—To delete the agenda item stating individuals, who have sued the city of Patterson, cannot be employed with the city. The city of Patterson is an at-will employer.