BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
An Opelousas city police officer charged in a December shooting incident which allegedly injured the police chief and his wife, had her resignation request granted Tuesday night, but the Opelousas Board of Aldermen rejected her effort to be paid for annual unused sick leave and compensatory time.
The Board voted 5-1 to further discuss whether to give former officer Savannah Butler the $7,095 she says the city owes her while she was employed at the police department..
Butler, who was arrested on separate felony counts of illegal carrying or discharge and obstruction of justice and another count of misdemeanor negligent injury, was not present at the meeting nor represented by an identified legal counsel when the Board discussed the matter during the open meeting.
The board agreed previously to place Butler on paid administrative leave effective Jan. 27.
Authorities said in court records that a firearm discharge from a weapon allegedly held by Butler at her home Dec. 22. Injured both Chief Graig LeBlanc and Crystal LeBlanc, a St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s deputy.
Graig LeBlanc has been charged with three felonies that include failure to seek assistance, obstruction of justice and malfeasance in connection with the shooting.
Issues With The Request
Alderman Charles Cummings said he wants to continue examining the effort by Butler to obtain compensation earned with the department.
“I think we should leave this until we have a budget discussion,” Cummings said.
Graig LeBlanc, who appeared before the Board while the matter was being discussed, warned that failing to grant the payment package for Butler could eventually cause her to file a lawsuit against the city.
“When you have a lawsuit like this, there is a question about who might be responsible for attorney’s fees and whatever else,” LeBlanc told the Board.
Discussing Butler
LeBlanc denied that Butler received favoritism during her employment as an officer.
“(Butler) was nobody special. She was expected to follow all the rules and received no special privileges regardless of the outcome,” LeBlanc said.
Court records filed in connection with the arrest of Butler indicate that she and Graig LeBlanc were alone at her house Dec. 22 when Crystal LeBlanc arrived on the property..
Rachael Reed, who spoke at the meeting, asked whether anyone in the police department conducted a criminal background check before Butler was hired as an officer.
Reed claimed she has documents that show no criminal background check was performed before Butler was hired.
Department Policies
However, Police Capt. Frank Boudreaux said OPD performs felony background checks for anyone hired at the department.
“Anyone that we want to hire cannot have a felony record. We keep all of our background information in each personnel file. We have to take the background checks seriously, since we have to turn (police personnel files) into the auditor,” Boudreaux said.
Graig LeBlanc warned the Board that any discussion about Butler and her employment should be conducted with caution.
LeBlanc told the Board that he did not want to discuss in detail any information associated with hiring Butler as a police officer.
When pressed about the hours that Butler might have worked on investigations while employed at OPD, LeBlanc refused to provide specific details.
“I can’t get into personnel issues, times, timesheets, money and administrative leave,” LeBlanc told alderwoman Delita Broussard, who questioned how much time Butler might have spent on investigations.
Boudreaux and LeBlanc admitted the department has not created a fraternization policy for employees. However each officer said they eventually plan to introduce a policy that outlines conduct at OPD.
Fraternization normally means the establishment of relationships that are considered to in some way be unethical or problematic.
