Month: October 2021

Former Louisiana State Police Trooper Carl Cavalier (photo courtesy of AP).

In yet another rough day for the public relations department of Louisiana State Police (LSP), former Trooper Carl Cavalier, on whom we reported as being notified of his termination on October 8, 2021, together with former Louisiana State Police Commission (LSPC) member Lloyd Grafton, really pinned their ears back and let loose in an Associated Press article published today (Tuesday, October 26, 2021) which includes a video interview featuring the two men.  Let’s take a look at a few highlights from the just-linked feature:

“If you’re a part of the good ol’ boy system, there’s no wrong you can do,” said Carl Cavalier, a Black state trooper who was recently fired in part for criticizing the agency’s handling of brutality cases.

It’s an us-versus-them culture, they say, in which many troopers and higher-ups are more interested in covering for each other than living up to the agency’s image of honor, duty, courage and “doing the right thing.”

“There’s a corruption that allows the reprobates in state police to just sort of do as they damn well please,” said W. Lloyd Grafton, a use-of-force expert who is consulting on the Greene family’s civil case and served on the Louisiana State Police Commission. “Nobody holds them accountable.”

Now let’s take a look at the AP video itself:

AP video interview featuring former LSP Trooper Carl Cavalier and former LSPC Member Lloyd Grafton

There’s one sure-fire thing about Grafton!  He stands by his words!  It was Grafton, while serving in his last LSPC meeting, who uttered the words that “nobody holds them (Louisiana State Police) accountable,” on February 17, 2017.  It was at that meeting where Grafton literally had it out with Gov. Edwards’ “$70 million man” on the LSPC, Jared Riecke.

Though many of our long-time subscribers have seen this video before, we think that, in light of today’s AP feature and particularly for the benefit of our newer subscribers, Grafton’s performance from 4 1/2 years ago is worth an encore repeat, so here it is:

Then LSPC Member Lloyd Grafton has it out with current LSPC Member Jared Riecke on February 17, 2017.

Grafton got so frustrated at Riecke’s dogged determination to get then-LSPC Executive Director Cathy Derbonne terminated (see above video), that he resigned moments after the above video.  Here’s a repeat of his rationale for resigning from the LSPC:

Grafton provides his rationale for resigning at the 2/17/17 LSPC Meeting.

As Grafton makes clear, he believes the efforts to terminate former LSPC Executive Director Derbonne constituted “a lynching” of which he steadfastly refused to be a part.

Most long-term subscribers are aware that Derbonne sued the LSPC for wrongful termination, and she alleged in that lawsuit that Gov. Edwards’ office “had told her to shut the f— up!”

In our next feature, we’re going to update everyone on Derbonne’s lawsuit.  Trust us, that’s a feature we believe you WILL NOT want to miss!

As for Cavalier, we gave everyone a heads up that the LSPC appeal of his termination would constitute the “Super Bowl” of all LSPC appeal hearings!  Does anyone have any doubt that we did not overhype that appeal?

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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.

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