Sound Off Louisiana

Former Louisiana State Police Troopers Dakota DeMoss (left) and George Harper (right).

At the conclusion of our “nigger with a badge” feature, we indicated that we would soon be reporting on other appeals.  We are prepared to do so at this time.

Let us first state that, because the Louisiana State Police Commission (LSPC) meeting for September of 2021 was understandably delayed due to Hurricane Ida until September 30, 2021, we are, in this feature, covering the happenings of significance both at that delayed meeting as well as the most recent LSPC meeting of Thursday, October 14, 2021.

At the September 30, 2021 meeting, former LSP Troopers Dakota DeMoss (who was involved in the arrest and apprehension of Ronald Greene) and George Harper (who was involved in the arrest and apprehension of Antonio Harris) made requests of the LSPC.  Both former troopers, who were arrested, charged with excessive use of force, and subsequently terminated from LSP, made a request for their appeals of their terminations to be consolidated and also that they be stayed pending their criminal investigations.

Subsequently, at the October 14, 2021 LSPC meeting, DeMoss and Harper, through their attorney, Adam Karamanis, requested reconsideration of the LSPC’s September 30, 2021 ruling entailing their requests for stays.

Before we present video of the requests, we’ll remind some of our newer subscribers of the texts shared among troopers entailing Harris’ arrest, which were first published by Sound Off Louisiana and soon thereafter republished by news media across the nation and world.  Here are those texts to refresh everyone’s memory (Note:  Jacob Brown has been arrested, terminated, and most recently, indicted by a Federal Grand Jury):

The troopers then escorted Harris to one of their marked police vehicles. As they placed Harris in the back seat, Tpr. Harper threatened him by saying, “stupid motherfucker, I hope you act up when we get to the fucking jail. I am going to punish you, dumb bitch. What the fuck is wrong with you, stupid motherfucker. ”

Jacob Brown “How was his attitude at the jail?”

George Harper “Complete silence”

Jacob Brown “Lmao”

Dakota DeMoss “lol he was still digesting that ass whoop in”

Jacob Brown “its gonna take him a couple days … ”

Jacob Brown “he gonna be sore tomorrow for sure”

Jacob Brown “BET he wont run from a full grown bear again”

Dakota DeMoss “Bet he don’t even cross into LA anymore”

George Harper “GRIZZLY Nah he gonna spread the word that’s for damn sure”

Jacob Brown “lmao”

Dakota DeMoss “he’s gonna have nightmares for a long time”

Jacob Brown “lmao…..warms my heart knowing we could educate that young man”

Dakota DeMoss “lolol”

Larry Shappley “haha”

At this time, let’s present the relevant video footage entailing DeMoss and Harper from both LSPC meetings:

Requests for consolidation and stays of administrative investigations and appeals of former LSP Troopers DeMoss and Harper are considered and discussed at the LSPC meetings of 9/30/21 and 10/14/21.

Next, a few months ago, we committed to cover the  then-pending appeal of William R. Woodward, III, who was told at the July 8, 2021 LSPC Meeting that he’d be “held in contempt” if he did not “shut up.”  Woodward opted not to pursue an appeal of a DWI arrest he made; however, through his attorney, Adam Karamanis, he did seek a Declaratory Judgment that future investigations would not be conducted in a manner similar to the way his investigation was handled.  Here’s a presentation and discussion of Woodward’s efforts at obtaining that Declaratory Judgment by the LSPC on September 30, 2021:

LSP Trooper Woodward, through his attorney, Adam Karamanis, seeks a Declaratory Judgment from the LSPC that future investigations of troopers will not be conducted in a manner similar to the manner in which his investigation was conducted.

Next, during both meetings of the LSPC, discussions were held regarding HCR 84 of the 2021 Louisiana Legislative Session.  Rep. Ted James sponsored the House Concurrent Resolution, which, “requests the State Police Commission to adopt policies that reflect legislation recommended by the Police Training, Screening, and De-escalation Task Force.”  Here’s combined video of the LSPC’s discussion of HCR 84 for its meetings of September 30, 2021 and October 14, 2021:

LSPC discusses HCR-84 sponsored by State Rep. Ted James (D-Baton Rouge).

We’ll consider that to be a wrap for the major highlights of the last two LSPC meetings; however, if anyone would like to view those meetings in their entireties, feel free to do so by clicking here for the 9/30/21 meeting and/or by clicking here for the 10/14/21 meeting.

State Sen. Rick Ward (R-Port Allen), guest speaker at the Baton Rouge Press Club on Monday, October 18, 2021, appears to be appreciative of Sound Off Louisiana‘s question regarding a potential Ward run for Governor of Louisiana in 2023.

When political analyst and pollster John Couvillon was the guest speaker at the Baton Rouge Press Club (BRPC) on September 27, 2021, he seemed very excited to pounce on our question about the 2023 Louisiana Governor’s race.  We asked him if he saw any potential contenders beyond the obvious GOP contenders (who have all-but announced full-blown pursuit of the Governor’s Mansion in 2023) of Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and Attorney General Jeff Landry.  We also asked him if he’d care to speculate on who the Democratic standard bearer in 2023 may be.

Couvillon’s response on the Democratic side was very specific in naming Louisiana State Sen. Gary Smith (D-Norco) as a very likely candidate in 2023.  On the GOP side, however, he was much more vague.  He stressed that a sitting Congressman would have a built-in advantage on name recognition and the fact that such elected officials routinely have to appear on camera to address national issues as they apply to Louisiana, thus in essence obtaining free media coverage to help boost a campaign.  Even when pressed with a follow-up question by another member of the BRPC; however, Couvillon declined to name any other potential GOP contender.

Couvillon’s refraining from referencing one name in particular, State Sen. Rick Ward (R-Port Allen) did surprise us at Sound Off Louisiana.  Why?  Because some folk in whom we have the utmost confidence to be “in the know” on Louisiana Republican politics, have told us that Louisiana trial lawyers are gearing up for a major push to both fund and ultimately elect Ward as Louisiana’s next Governor.

That’s an important development because, as Couvillon explained on the video at the first link of this feature, any member of the Louisiana Legislature has an uphill battle to broaden and expand his or her name recognition beyond home base to spread name recognition across the State of Louisiana.

That’s where the massive funding of Louisiana’s trial lawyers can be a huge shot in the arm for any contender for Governor.  We all recall 2015 when it was no secret whatsoever who the trial lawyers preferred for Governor.  Further, by funding ads like the “prostitutes over patriots” ad (we’d provide a link, but the ad has since been taken down, mission accomplished we assume!), the trial lawyers pulled off one heck of a feat!

They managed to single-handedly pull off what, at the outset of 2015, seemed almost impossible!  By exploiting the negative Vitter ads, they managed to convince Louisiana voters to elect a then-barely-known at all Louisiana State Representative by the name of John Bel Edwards!  Not only did they convince voters to elect John Bel Edwards, but they got him over the top by a very wide margin and, with more funding in the primary, there may not have been need to even have a runoff!  We’re willing to bet that even Edwards’ own campaign was stunned on primary night when they saw the wide gulf between him as # 1 and then-U. S. Sen. David Vitter as a very distant # 2!

So, if that doesn’t demonstrate the clout trial lawyers have been able to garner in Louisiana elections, then we don’t know what does.  That’s why it is a very, very significant development that Louisiana trial lawyers may be (and we’ve been told ARE) lining up behind Ward to be Louisiana’s next Governor.

With that in mind, Sound Off Louisiana‘s founder, Robert Burns, asked Ward, who was the guest speaker at today’s (Monday, October 18, 2021) meeting of the BRPC, to address his prospects for running for Governor in 2023 and the talk that the trial lawyers are preparing to heavily fund and support his run for Governor.  Here is Ward’s response to the question, which he seemed to enjoy providing, particularly his final commentary, for which everyone in the room enjoyed a good laugh:

Sen. Ward addresses Sound Off Louisiana‘s question of prospective Louisiana trial lawyers preparing to support a quest on Ward’s part to become Louisiana’s next Governor.

Yes, the race for Louisiana Governor is still two years away, but we believe it’s never too early to start sizing up the field.  There’s one other major GOP name we’re hearing who is giving off strong vibes that he (we’ll reveal the gender) may likely pursue the Governor’s Mansion in 2023.  If the BRPC invites him to speak in coming weeks, we’ll be more than happy to ask him if he is gearing up for just such a run.  At any rate, we feel it’s safe to say Couvillon is right in his assessment that Nungesser and Landry aren’t going to be the only GOP candidates for Governor of Louisiana in 2023, and that’s something we are VERY thrilled to hear!

CLICK HERE to view Sen. Ward’s presentation to the BRPC in its entirety.

If you would like to be added to our Sound Off Louisiana email list to be notified of future posts, simply go to our home page and scroll to the bottom (mobile devices) or to the top of the right-hand column (desktops).  Supply your email address within the subscribe box.  You’ll then receive an automated email from Word Press, and all you have to do is click on the blue “confirm follow” bar contained within that email, and you’ll begin receiving great posts such as the preceding one above.

Pre-sale advertisement of the book “Nigger With a Badge” authored by Louisiana State Police Trooper Carl Cavalier, who was notified on October 8, 2021 that he will be terminated from LSP.

On June 10, 2021, we published this feature outlining a week of jam-packed activity within Louisiana State Police (LSP).  One of the items we snuck in that feature which attracted very little attention at the time is the following item (#5 on the list), which we repeat at this time:

5.  (New revelation by Sound Off Louisiana).  Several LSP sources have informed us that LSP’s upper brass is not pleased at all with the upcoming release of a book entitled, “Nigger with a badge.”  We have already pre-ordered a copy.  Sources tell us that LSP is suspicious that an active trooper wrote the book and that LSP is “going after him” as a result.  We’ll certainly report on the book’s contents upon our own reading of it.

We did order the book, but we have deferred commenting on it.

As noted above, LSP conducted an investigation into the book’s authorship.  We doubt LSP had to perform much of an investigation in that regard, however, because, when we ordered the book, the receipt for the $50 we paid for the book clearly showed the funds going into an account entitled “Carl Cavalier.”

Once the book was published, Cavalier was seen on several occasions on WBRZ (Channel 2 in Baton Rouge) being interviewed by the station’s chief investigative reporter, Chris Nakamoto.  Here is the link for one of those interviews hosted on the Baton Rouge Chapter of the Louisiana NAACP’s Facebook page.

Cavalier was initially suspended for 200 hours and transferred to LSP’s Gaming Division.  However, in what may have been the final straw for LSP, Cavalier filed this pro-se lawsuit against LSP on September 30, 2021.  From that lawsuit:

On or about June 11, 2021, Petitioner received a phone call from Sgt. Dave Floss regarding a secondary employment application. These questions were directly related to allegations that Petitioner had authored a work of fiction wherein LSP was harshly criticized. Sgt. Floss requested a copy of the book (NWB was released July, 2021).

On or about July 20, 2021 Petitioner was interviewed by LSP: Internal Affairs regarding a complaint he filed against Faye Dysart Morrison, Assistant Secretary of Legal Affairs. At the conclusion of the interview, LTC Van Buren gave Petitioner a hard copy of LSP Procedure Order 901 Code of Ethics, Subsection 42 -Public Statements regarding media contact, specifically
regarding a television interview with WBRZ Investigative Reporter Chris Nakamoto on June 28, 2021 .

Petitioner gave the following television and radio interviews regarding criminal conduct by commissioned personnel of Louisiana State Police: June 28, 2021 WBRZ with Chris Nakamoto; July 22, 2021 WBOK New Orleans Radio; July 25, 2021 Interview with Eugene Collins, President of Baton Rouge NAACP; July 28, 2021 Instagram Live interview with Dr. Jamal Taylor; August 18, 2021, WWL Channel 4 Interview with Mike Perlstein.

On or about August 2, 2021, Petitioner returned to active duty at LSP. He was immediately involuntarily transferred from Narcotics to Gaming. This action was a constructive demotion to a far less desirable position than Petitioner previously occupied. Petitioner has eleven (11) years of law enforcement employment, but has no experience with gaming, or casino regulation.  Additionally, he was also given correspondence advising him that he was now on administrative leave pending investigation and again sent to his residence indefinitely.

On August 27, 2021, Petitioner received a letter informing him that he would be suspended without pay for forty (40) hours for violation of the LSP Policy on Secondary Employment and one hundred and sixty (160) hours for violation of the LSP Policy on Conduct Unbecoming an Officer. This proposed suspension will result in a loss of income in the amount of five thousand, six hundred and seventy-eight dollars and 00/100 ($5,678.00).

Petitioner contends that the actions directed at him constituted illegal race-based harassment/discrimination and were taken in retaliation /reprisal for his whistle blowing activity.

As we indicated, the filing of the pro-se lawsuit just may have been the proverbial final straw. At any rate, on October 8, 2021, Cavalier was informed that he would be terminated as reflected in the following Findings of an LSP Administrative Investigation:

We corresponded with a number of retired troopers regarding Cavalier.  Those retired troopers, while understanding of Cavalier’s goal, nevertheless expressed apprehension about details of the book, which Cavalier now states (see lawsuit material above) is a “work of fiction.”

Specifically, one retried LSP Lieutenant cited violations of LSP Policy and Procedures outlined as having been committed by the author of the book.  Further, at least one retired trooper expressed concern over Cavalier’s handling of the following French Quarter arrest on June 24, 2016:

June 24, 2016 arrest of two drunks in the French Quarter in New Orleans.

We also reached out to Ms. Belinda Parker-Brown with Louisiana United International regarding this development.  She stated:  “This is how this officer was treated once he came into contact with the murder of Ronald Greene.  He became frustrated as he began to seek justice for Ronald Greene.  He angered his superiors, and that is what has led to his termination.  We need to all come together and protect courageous whistleblowers who see these injustices being covered up.”

So, given that an appeal of his termination is all-but-certain, we’ll be there to cover that appeal.  We have a feeling that, given the nature of this termination and the circumstances surrounding it, we’ll be far from alone in terms of media outlets covering that appeal.

We have material to present entailing other LSP appeals, but we’ll save that for a subsequent post.

If you would like to be added to our Sound Off Louisiana email list to be notified of future posts, simply go to our home page and scroll to the bottom (mobile devices) or to the top of the right-hand column (desktops).  Supply your email address within the subscribe box.  You’ll then receive an automated email from Word Press, and all you have to do is click on the blue “confirm follow” bar contained within that email, and you’ll begin receiving great posts such as the preceding one above.