CROWLEY, La. (KLFY) – Tension is rising between Crowley’s City Council and Police Chief Jimmy Broussard.
This comes after one of his officer’s posted a comment on social media, questioning the council’s support for the city’s police force.
 
The root of the issue, the newly sworn-in City Council is in disagreement over leases for new patrol units.
Something the former council had already approved.
 
Officer Michael Bertrand said on social media, “Maybe if our City would approve the hiring of more officers, we wouldn’t have to be working with 2-3 officers on a shift at any given time. Does anyone know who approves more Officer slots? I believe it’s the City Council that does those types of approvals. Oh wait! But then we wouldn’t have enough police units for the new officers to use because those were debunked by the Mickey Mouse City Council that this city has.”
 
5 Crowley City Council members filed grievance letters to the Civil Service against the Crowley Police Officer, saying the posts were offensive.
 
“I’m going to defend him (Officer Bertrand) to the very hills that I can,” said Police Chief Jimmy Broussard.
 
He’s defending one of his officers’ “Mickey Mouse Club” reference on social media towards the council.
 
“If you’ve (an officer) done wrong, you come in here, I’m going to reprimand you. You take your lick, you move on. But if you’re right on something, I’m going to defend you to the last blood in my body,” said Broussard.
 
The post was made on a Crowley citizens Facebook group.
 
“He (Officer Bertrand) did not politically speak saying this councilman needs to be recalled or that councilman needs to be,” said Broussard.
 
Alderman Samuel Reggie in the formal complaint, called the officer’s comments, “disrespectful and unprofessional.”

Alderman Clint Cradeur saying, “I was appalled at the reference. And this type of action is very disappointing.”
 
“You know everyone has a right to file that (grievance), however the Lawrason Act in the state of Louisiana, allows an elected chief of police to run his day-to day operations,” said Broussard.
 
He’s also asked Mayor Tim Monceaux to remove Alderman Brad Core from the City’s Public Safety Committee, after saying the officer’s comments were “intended to intimidate” him.
 
“After his (Core’s) filing of this particular grievance, number 1 he had lost the faith and the trust of the officers, not including myself. And that from this point forward, I didn’t feel like he would make an unbiased decision when it came to the Police Department,” said Broussard.
 
Mayor Monceaux says this has nothing to do with his office and declined to comment.
KLFY also reached out to the 5 council members who filed grievances, and none of them would give us an interview as well.
 
Thursday morning at 8:00, the Crowley Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board will hold a public hearing to discuss the grievance letters and complaints.
KLFY will have a news crew there, and will bring you the latest developments on what happens.
 
To read all the grievance letters from the Council, click the link below: