Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Chief LeDuff Speaks out about Officer Incidents Including Rape Charges


Several Baton Rouge police officers ended up on the other side of the law recently. The latest, an officer accused of simple rape. Tuesday, police chief Jeff LeDuff spoke out for the first time about the incidents and what you can expect from the city's finest.

First, Officer Ed Coulter was involved in a wreck and placed on administrative leave back on November third. Coulter was off duty and a test administered after the crash indicated alcohol was involved. Then, officer Jerald Holmes was arrested November fourth for allegedly falsifying time sheets he submitted to an extra duty employer. Now corporal Jeffery Scott Webb faces an alleged rape charge in Livingston parish. Chief LeDuff said, "I have men and women out here right now and yeah they wear it. We all wear it. We've had three incidents back to back and its not common for our department. You don't see this very often in our department."

Chief LeDuff says the justice system will process them like everyone else. The chief made no apologies only vowing to run the best department he can. Chief LeDuff said, "it's our job to find, recruit, train and give Baton Rouge the absolute best that we can and sometimes your best is just not good enough and so know we are not gonna waiver from this. We are going to continue to do the job. We continue to put our best foot forward and this too shall pass."

Because of civil service rules and legal issues the chief could not get specific about any of the recent alleged incidents. As of Tuesday night, officer Clouter is still on administrative leave, Jerald Holmes resigned from the force after his arrest and officer Webb is still being held without bond.

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