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Ms. Mona Hardin, mother of Ronald Greene, who died at the hands of Louisiana State Police Troopers on May 10, 2019, voices frustration on Monday, November 14, 2022 at a meeting of the Special Committee of the Louisiana House formed to delve into that in-custody death.  Her frustrations centered on statements made prior to her testimony by LSP Col. Lamar Davis and also what she asserts is the false claim by Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards that she and her family were shown the “Clary video” when Hardin has consistently contended that she and her family were shown mere “snippets” of the videos from that night despite her daughter’s pleas for them to see “the whole video.”

When we published this July 5, 2022 feature on the widespread LSP Cadet cheating scandal spanning several consecutive Cadet classes, we committed to our subscribers and casual site visitors to follow up.  Trust us, we have tried to do so very, very diligently.  We spoke with sources familiar with the scandal, and our first guidance was to request texts between LSP Trooper Patrick Thomas and then-Cadet Senette Small.  Here’s what we asked for in that request of July 5, 2022:

Text messages between Trooper Patrick Thomas and Academy Cadet Senette Small which precipitated an Internal Affairs investigation.

Bear in mind that the request was made on July 5, 2022.  On November 7, 2022 (125 DAYS!! after our request), here’s the response we received:

With regard to your request for text messages between Small and Thomas “which precipitated an Internal Affairs investigation,” please be advised that there are copies of limited text messaging between Small and Thomas in the investigative file related to the 2019 Academy cheating investigation. Those text messages were not the subject of any discipline for either employee and as such, the department considers the privacy interest of its employee’s communications outweighs any public interest in those text messages, pursuant to City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge v. Capital City Press, L.L.C., 2007-CA-1088 (La. App. 1 Cir. 10/10/08), 4 So.3d 807.

There goes that whole “right to privacy” assertion once again!  So, what our key sources with integral knowledge of the matter told us should be a critical item we should request has been blocked cold by LSP.  Go figure!  We’ve been told the contents of the texts, but we refrain from publishing items of that nature for which we don’t have the documents, and LSP deems the public to have no right to know what’s in those texts, so sorry, folks, we did our best, and we’re not inclined to go through another three-ring circus of a court trial given that we may well draw Judge Don Johnson once again!  Being blunt, there are several other judges we could draw for whom we would be just as uncomfortable as drawing Johnson!

We do want to drive one point home hard!  LSP Col. Lamar Davis has been by far (and we do mean by far) the most restrictive LSP Colonel regarding the release of records than either of his two predecessors who have served in his capacity since this blog was formed.  We firmly believe that propensity on Davis’ part provides the key to what is wrong with LSP and why the agency operates in such a clandestine manner.  Further, it’s our contention that aspect of LSP’s operations has gotten even more clandestine under Davis!  If anyone asks us our “trust level” for Davis on a scale of 1-10, we will quickly respond with “0.”

We therefore find it ironic that Davis would tout both when he was promoted to Colonel, and more recently, yesterday (Monday, November 14, 2022) just how “transparent” he’s making the agency.  Let’s spend just 13 seconds to see what Davis said to the Ronald Greene House Committee yesterday:

11/14/22:  Davis stresses how “transparent” he is making LSP to the public.

Our only commentary is that actions speak louder than words!

We weren’t the only ones unhappy with Col. Davis’ testimony before the Ronald Greene House Committee yesterday.  Let’s take a look at Ms. Mona Hardin, Ronald Greene’s mother, provide her testimony to Davis’ continued employment of Troopers Kory York and John Clary:

11/14/22:  Ms. Mona Hardin, mother of Ronald Greene, provides her testimony on LSP’s continued employment of Troopers Kory York and John Clary as well as other practices she has observed by LSP and Col. Lamar Davis.

Now, Gov. Edwards was supposed to be at this hearing; however, he had what he deemed to be far more important matters to attend to.

If we could take a wager, we would bet this groundbreaking was scheduled immediately after Edwards obtained knowledge of when this hearing would take place (we were told about 16 days ago), and the all-important ground breaking was then scheduled to coincide with the hearing.

Meanwhile, Ms. Hardin was left to continue to wonder with bewilderment when (or even if) anyone at LSP or the Governor himself will ever be held accountable for what happened to her son on May 10, 2019!

The fact that Edwards was not there did not stop Rep. Debbie Villio (R-Kenner) from getting to the bottom of whether or not, as Edwards has claimed, Ms. Hardin and her family were permitted to see the “Clary video” way back in October of 2020.  Let’s take a look:

11/14/22:  Ms. Hardin provides clarity on whether or not she or her family viewed the “Clary video” in October of 2020 as asserted by Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards.

After watching that video, no wonder Edwards skedaddled  to that groundbreaking ceremony!

Now, make no mistake, Col. Davis made it clear that, notwithstanding his soon-to-end tenure as LSP Colonel once a new Governor is sworn into office in January of 2024, he made it emphatically clear that “my vision” for LSP will continue many years after due to the people he’s placing in positions via promotions.  Let’s take a look:

11/14/22:  Davis emphasizes that his actions will have long-term impacts on LSP notwithstanding his short tenure as LSP Colonel.

As our subscribers are aware, it is Davis’ actions which have provoked the ire of white male troopers, who assert that Davis is looking no deeper than skin color or gender provided that an African American or female posts for a promotion and that his promotional decisions are based almost exclusively on that criterion alone.  We at Sound Off Louisiana have been bombarded with telephone calls and emails from ex-troopers who have unloaded upon Davis to us regarding promotions that literally boggle the mind based on what all we are told.  We also want to stress that these troopers have described the actions of the troopers in Troop F who were involved in Ronald Greene’s apprehension as “reprehensible.”

As most folk also know, we have embarked upon a long-term project (hopefully within 90 days or so, but it is a HECK of a massive undertaking) to construct tables for all of Davis’ promotions as well as all of the retirements and/or resignations of troopers since he took over LSP’s operations as Colonel.  At this time, let’s present the current progress we have on the promotional table:

We’re not going to comment on the contents of the above table because we already know many troopers have been awaiting publication even of the above material for a while now.  We appreciate everyone’s patience, and we’re going to gradually build both tables in full, but it is a huge undertaking, especially as we try to report on other matters both with LSP and otherwise.

We will state, however, that we will have an upcoming feature on one of the individuals featured in the table above and the stonewalling we encountered regarding a public records request made of that individual (spoiler alert:  that particular public records request was not made of LSP).

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.

Attorney Lee C. Durio, appearing to make himself at home at the Chamber meeting facility of the St. Martin Parish Government (SMPG), and against whom Billy Broussard filed a formal complaint with the Louisiana Office of Disciplinary Counsel alleging three (3) unethical acts which Broussard asserts Durio committed during his pursuit of him on behalf of his client, SMPG.

On Thursday, November 10, 2022, Billy Broussard continued his legal fight with St. Martin Parish Government (SMPG).  This time Broussard filed a formal complaint with the Louisiana Office of Disciplinary Counsel against St. Martin Parish Attorney Lee Durio.  In the following video, Sound Off Louisiana founder Robert Burns accompanies Broussard to explain the three (3) core elements of Broussard’s complaint:

11/10/22:  Burns accompanies Broussard mere moments after he filed an ODC formal complaint against SMPG Attorney Lee Durio.

Before we look at the core contents of Broussard’s complaint, we need to stress one thing.  Normally, proof of “irreparable harm” is a requirement for obtaining the type of injunctive relief Durio sought in the form of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO).  However, Durio asserted that, because Broussard was “breaking the law,” he indicated that the requirement was “being dispensed with.”  That background will provide the full context of Broussard’s first accusation of unethical conduct on the part of Durio.

Now, let’s take a moment to review the three (3) ethics violations Broussard asserts in his complaint:

Mr. Durio filed a Temporary Restraining Order against me on August 19, 2021 which I have enclosed as part of this complaint. Then, when he realized that he was going to go down in flames at a court hearing set for Tuesday, September 14, 2021, made the proposal to Parish President Chester Cedars, who is the representative for his client, the St. Martin Parish Government, that the hearing be continued, that the TRO be permitted to dissolve on its own, and that I simply resume “violating the law.” I contend that, as an officer of the court, it is a clear and unequivocal ethics violation for Mr. Durio to, on the one hand, claim I am “violating the law,” then turn right around and tell me, “We decided it’s okay for you to violate the law, so resume doing it!” I enclose the written agreement that Mr. Durio proposed to memorialize for the ODC him having done so.

As if that was not bad enough, his own client, St. Martin Parish Government, contacted me in mid-February of 2022 and asked if it was okay with me for THEM to haul in debris onto my property, which was the very activity for which Mr. Durio filed the TRO (which had been dissolved by operation of law some 160+ days prior). Rather than doing the ethical act, which would have been to advise his client that it could not engage in the same “illegal act” for which it was pursuing me, Mr. Durio instead posed no opposition whatsoever to his client hauling in the debris. I have extensive cameras installed on the 33-acre property, and I provide as evidence to the ODC color time-stamped, date-stamped photos of his client hauling in such debris. I contend that is the absolute epitome of unethical conduct to be pursing someone on behalf of a lient for alleged “illegal acts” and turn right around and permit his own client to engage in that same “illegal act” on the defendant’s (me) property!

Finally, I contend that Mr. Durio has acted unethically when my resumed activities caused neighbor complaints, and rather than telling those complainants that, “We have given him permission to engage in these acts,” he instead encouraged the filing of complaints with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, and I enclose just one of those many complaints.

Broussard is also concerned about the extensive past and present law-enforcement officers who are working together entailing Broussard.  Specifically, Durio is a former police officer, as is SMPG Chief Administrator Calder “Pop” Hebert, as is Louisiana State Police Trooper Scott Lopez, all of whom Broussard has alleged have worked hand in hand, along with SMPG Deputy Baily Romero, at engaging in acts which he asserts are targeted at him to “build a case where none exists.”

Broussard even submitted the following 18-second video clip of Romero attempting to make a call right after a callout to Broussard’s property and, when there is no answer, the phone clearly shows the “Law Office of Lee C. Durio” on prominent display.  Here’s that 18-second video:

March 4, 2022 call by SMPG Deputy Baily Romero which, upon no answer being obtained, the phone clearly shows “Law Office of Lee C. Durio” on prominent display.

Here’s a still photo of what Broussard references:

March 4, 2022 screenshot of Baily Romero’s phone showing him potentially calling the “Law Office of Lee Durio” immediately after he’d completed investigating a complaint filed by the owner of property next to Broussard’s 33-acre farm, Blake Dubroc.

As we indicated in the video, we’ll update our subscribersip and casual site visitors with the ultimate outcome of Broussard’s formal complaint against Durio once it has been fully investigated and any decision made by the Louisiana Office of Disciplinary Counsel.

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.

Jeff Crouere, who was the guest speaker at the Republican Party of East Baton Rouge’s Ronald Reagan Newsmaker Luncheon on Monday, November 7, 2022.

New Orleans-based conservative radio and television host Jeff Crouere was the guest speaker at the Republican Party of East Baton Rouge’s November Ronald Reagan Luncheon held on Monday, November 7, 2022.  Let’s take a look at highlights of his presentation:

Crouere stresses that, if U. S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Baton Rouge) runs for Louisiana Governor in 2023, he will, “work day and night to defeat him.”

Crouere states his “worry” that the Louisiana Republican Party’s early endorsement of Jeff Landry for 2023 Governor may “backfire.”

Mere hours after Crouere expressed his concerns about a Landry-endorsement backfire, WAFB produced a news feature about the dischord the LA GOP has already generated.

Crouere responds to questions by Sound Off Louisiana‘s Burns about the prospects for State Rep. Richard Nelson (R-Mandeville) or State Sen. Sharon Hewitt (R-Slidell) entering the race for Governor of Louisiana next year and also whether he sees Jeff Landry as being vulnerable to negative attack ads once Landry has to face an opponent in the runoff for Governor.

Crouere joins many others in expressing his belief that Donald Trump will declare his candadicy for President of the United States on November 14, 2022.

Crouere states his case for why the Trump impeachments were unfounded and also states why he believes that, if the GOP takes over Congress, immediate impeachment proceedings should transpire against President Joe Biden and states his frustration that U. S. Congressman Graves did not agree with him, with Graves stating, “I haven’t seen anything impeachable that Joe Biden has done.”

CLICK HERE to see Crouere’s presentation in its entirety, and CLICK HERE for the Ronald Reagan Newsmaker Luncheon of Monday, November 7, 2022 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.