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Louisiana State Police Major David McClendon, who was tasked with investigating the troopers having taken a side trip to Las Vegas while traveling to a convention in San Diego in October of 2016.

In a stunning revelation, and likely one to have a profound impact on the final outcome of the ongoing appeal hearings of LSP troopers Derrell Williams, Thruman Miller, and Rodney Hyatt, LSP Major David McClendon, who was tasked with investigating the troopers’ Las Vegas side trip for a San Diego convention in October of 2016, bluntly stated that, if former LSP Col. Mike Edmonson approved the side trip, his disciplinary decision to dock each trooper’s compensated time “would have to be revisited.” Let’s take a look at what he said:

McClendon admits that, if Edmonson approved the side trip, his decision to dock compensated hours “would have to be revisited.”

Being blunt, though the mainstream media, which had zero presence at today’s hearing, is all geared up for the “big show” of Edmonson testifying tomorrow, we firmly believe the matter was settled with the preceding video.  Why?  Because Edmonson can do one of two things.  He can admit he approved the trip, thus making McClendon’s candid admission above a slam-dunk victory for the three troopers.  Alternatively, Edmonson can decline to testify and plead the Fifth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution.  If he does that, the troopers’ attorney, Floyd Falcon, has already demonstrated beyond any shadow of a doubt that Edmonson did in fact authorize the side trip and, according to testimony, openly encouraged it (see video below).

So, while everyone is all geared up for the “big show” tomorrow, we believe the “big show” transpired in the two minute video clip above.  Nevertheless, here are video highlights of McClendon’s direct examination today by LSP attorney Michele Giroir and cross examination by the troopers’ defense attorney, Floyd Falcon:

McClendon’s direct examination by Giroir.

McClendon’s cross examination by Falcon.

We’ll certainly join the “big guys” (i.e. mainstream media) tomorrow, but we firmly believe the matter is now anti-climatic for the reason stated above.

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Former LSP Col. Mike Edmonson

Opening arguments transpired today in the Louisiana State Police Commission (LSPC) hearing entailing the appeals of three LSP troopers:  Rodney Hyatt, Derrell Williams, and Thurman Miller (a/k/a the “Vegas Crew”).

Representing LSP was attorney Michele Giroir, who spent a mere two-plus minutes emphasizing that the troopers “abused a privilege” by accumulating exorbitant expenses and that, if every state employee conducted themselves in such a manner, the much-hyped “fiscal cliff” would “quickly become a Grand Canyon.”

In sharp contrast to the brief opening arguments of Giroir, the troopers’ defense attorney, Floyd Falcon, who is being paid with funds approved by the Louisiana State Trooper’s Association, didn’t mince his words entailing who is to blame for any and all “embarrassment to LSP:”  Former Col. Mike Edmonson.  Here’s a video highlight of Falcon’s opening arguments:

Highlights of attorney Floyd Falcon’s opening arguments in administrative hearing of LSP Troopers Hyatt, Williams, and Miller.  CLICK HERE for Falcon’s opening arguments in their entirety.

Today was the first day of the hearing, and it is expected to continue through Tuesday of next week (July 17, 2018).  Sound Off Louisiana will provide continued coverage as the hearing continues.

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.

LSU economist Jim Richardson and Public Administration Institute Director Jared Llorens.

We recently featured the proponents of a breakoff city of St. George when their representatives appeared before the Baton Rouge Press Club.  Today, it’s time to feature the opponents and their arguments.

First, the opponents are led by an informal organization called One Baton Rouge, which is spearheaded by political consultant Michael Beychok. The group paid $17,500 for the study, and Beychok said the money came from private donors.  Beychok stated that One Baton Rouge is comprised of between 24 – 100 individuals who share a common concern for Baton Rouge remaining together but emphasized that there is no “membership” to the organization.  He also emphasized that One Baton Rouge is totally separate and distinct from Together Baton Rouge, though he did not rule out the potential for there to be overlapping affiliations of individuals.

Let’s break out what the contracted folk who performed the study, LSU economist Jim Richardson and Public Administration Institute Director Jared Llorens, had to say as they presented the results of their study:

Dr. Richardson explains how the study came about (Darryl Gissel approaching him on behalf of “private citizens”) and Advocate reporter Andrea Gallo asking about One Baton Rouge’s composition and the cost of the study.

Dr. Richardson provides the study’s projection of revenues, expenditures, and deficit and responds to a question by Sound Off Louisiana founder Robert Burns entailing St. George proponents’ slamming of BRAC’s accounting skills.  A BRAC representative was present at today’s feature, and Sound Off Louisiana has extended an invitation to BRAC to refute on camera the statements made by the St. George proponents.  If they take us up on the offer, we will add it to this feature.

The actual study Richardson and Llorens conducted is supposed to be uploaded to the Baton Rouge Press Club website; however, as of the time of this publication, it has not yet been uploaded.  We’ll update this feature to provide a link once we observe it available on that website.  In the meantime, here is a quick table summarizing the variation of numbers Richardson discusses above:

Richardson and Llorens make their case for why they believe the St. George proponents’ touting of Sandy Springs,Georgia as a role model to emulate in a breakoff from Baton Rouge is misguided.

Although it wasn’t within the scope of the Richardson/Llorens study, which focused on financial impacts of a breakaway city (and they both politely indicated as much), one BRPC member nevertheless managed to drag them into a four-minute plus dialogue focused on St. George proponents having “white flight” and the creation of a city “unconcerned with racial diversity” as their motivations.

CLICK HERE for Richardson and Llorens’ presentation 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.