In the latest sign of strife between Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul and BRPD union leadership, the chief recently broke from tradition when he announced the department would be unable to spare an officer to represent the union before state lawmakers during the upcoming legislative session. The move represents another attempt to curb the power of union leadership amid an ongoing public feud that both sides have escalated in recent months.
Just this week, the Baton Rouge NAACP, which has offered outspoken support for Paul, called on the mayor to cancel the union contract completely and send a message to union leaders after they launched a billboard campaign criticizing the chief and his administration.
Baton Rouge billboard wars: NAACP wants to end BRPD union contract to 'make officers behave better'
The current contract with the union includes a clause permitting it to send one or two officers to the statehouse each legislative session — a privilege aimed at elevating the voices of rank and file officers — unless it would cause "undue hardship" to the department. Paul cited that hardship exemption when notifying union leadership about his decision, saying that ongoing manpower shortages and crime trends are too burdensome, according to union Vice President Siya Creel.
"To my knowledge, this is the first time any chief has ever denied the request," Creel said. "We're very concerned about our officers not having representation."
But BRPD spokesman Sgt. L'Jean McKneely Jr. said there have been other instances when the department needed all hands on deck and declined similar requests. He said that, between rising gun violence and staffing challenges, "every officer is vital to the safety of our community."
Creel acknowledged those challenges but said the upcoming session, which starts April 12, is especially significant from a law enforcement perspective. Police reform promises to become a central issue, partly in response to the widespread protests following the killing of George Floyd, who died while pinned under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer last summer.
For example, Louisiana lawmakers are set to consider proposed legislation that would limit the use of qualified immunity that shields officers from legal ramifications in some cases where a cop causes severe injury or death. Officers whose actions are deemed unreasonable could more easily be held legally responsible if the legislation passes.
Creel said BRPD union leaders are concerned about the limits to qualified immunity but would likely support other police reform measures. The department itself already bans chokeholds and other potentially harmful forms of restraint.
The Legislature created a task force last year to study police reform in advance of the 2021 session. The group includes state lawmakers and representatives from the Louisiana Fraternal Order of Police, law professors, defense attorneys, prosecutors and police chiefs.
State panel votes to trim police protections in cases alleging brutality
This is not the first time Paul has butted heads with union leaders over the BRPD legislative lobbying assignment. In 2019, the Legislature was considering a bill specific to the Baton Rouge Police Department that would tweak the promotional process, allowing the chief more discretion to decide whom to promote, rather than relying almost solely on seniority. Paul was backing the bill, which union leaders opposed.
Partway through the 2019 session, Paul reprimanded the officer assigned to the Legislature and pulled him from the role, claiming he skipped a meeting to discuss the proposal and failed to submit weekly progress reports about his work. The bill ultimately passed.
Last year the department did send an officer to the Legislature, but session ended early during the pandemic.
Just this week, the Baton Rouge NAACP, which has offered outspoken support for Paul, called on the mayor to cancel the union contract completely and send a message to union leaders after they launched a billboard campaign criticizing the chief and his administration.
Baton Rouge billboard wars: NAACP wants to end BRPD union contract to 'make officers behave better'
The current contract with the union includes a clause permitting it to send one or two officers to the statehouse each legislative session — a privilege aimed at elevating the voices of rank and file officers — unless it would cause "undue hardship" to the department. Paul cited that hardship exemption when notifying union leadership about his decision, saying that ongoing manpower shortages and crime trends are too burdensome, according to union Vice President Siya Creel.
"To my knowledge, this is the first time any chief has ever denied the request," Creel said. "We're very concerned about our officers not having representation."
But BRPD spokesman Sgt. L'Jean McKneely Jr. said there have been other instances when the department needed all hands on deck and declined similar requests. He said that, between rising gun violence and staffing challenges, "every officer is vital to the safety of our community."
Creel acknowledged those challenges but said the upcoming session, which starts April 12, is especially significant from a law enforcement perspective. Police reform promises to become a central issue, partly in response to the widespread protests following the killing of George Floyd, who died while pinned under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer last summer.
For example, Louisiana lawmakers are set to consider proposed legislation that would limit the use of qualified immunity that shields officers from legal ramifications in some cases where a cop causes severe injury or death. Officers whose actions are deemed unreasonable could more easily be held legally responsible if the legislation passes.
Creel said BRPD union leaders are concerned about the limits to qualified immunity but would likely support other police reform measures. The department itself already bans chokeholds and other potentially harmful forms of restraint.
The Legislature created a task force last year to study police reform in advance of the 2021 session. The group includes state lawmakers and representatives from the Louisiana Fraternal Order of Police, law professors, defense attorneys, prosecutors and police chiefs.
State panel votes to trim police protections in cases alleging brutality
This is not the first time Paul has butted heads with union leaders over the BRPD legislative lobbying assignment. In 2019, the Legislature was considering a bill specific to the Baton Rouge Police Department that would tweak the promotional process, allowing the chief more discretion to decide whom to promote, rather than relying almost solely on seniority. Paul was backing the bill, which union leaders opposed.
Partway through the 2019 session, Paul reprimanded the officer assigned to the Legislature and pulled him from the role, claiming he skipped a meeting to discuss the proposal and failed to submit weekly progress reports about his work. The bill ultimately passed.
Last year the department did send an officer to the Legislature, but session ended early during the pandemic.
