Sampson files complaint

By: CARISSA HEBERT

Managing Editor

The Ville Platte Fire and Police Civil Service Board heard a citizen’s complaint from Arthur James Sampson Jr. regarding an incident which occurred October 15.

At the end of the meeting, the board asked its secretary Hilda Edwards to check with Baton Rouge regarding the proper process of hearing a citizen’s complaint and what its jurisdiction was in regards to citizens’ complaint. The board also asked if the chief and officer could attend its next meeting.

Sampson said he filed his complaint with the board, the mayor and council and the police chief. He claimed a detective with the Ville Platte Police Department treated him improperly as a citizen after he reported his vehicle was stolen. He also acknowledged to the board he did not have a great relationship with the department, but as a citizen and victim, he did not believe he should be treated so rudely.

Sampson presented each board member with a copy of his complaint and explained the detective was rude to him, spoke to him in an improper way and did not handle the investigation correctly. Sampson reported his vehicle was stolen October 15. He said the detective did take fingerprints, but nothing has been done. Sampson said he had to supply the department with names of the suspects, and at this time, his keys are still missing and the department knows who took his vehicle. He also said he gave witness information and some witnesses have not been addressed by the detective about this incident.

Sampson said he wanted some type of action to be taken against the detective. “I’m a citizen,” he said. “If a cop doesn’t like me, I’m still a citizen.”

Board member Terryl Fontenot said since he had been on the board they have never dealt with a matter like this. He said he wanted to learn more about the legal steps the board should take.

Chairman David Ortego said they could accept the complaint, but they would have to speak to the chief. He added they would have to see how much jurisdiction they had in this matter, so the board accepted the complaint and asked Edwards to schedule another meeting. They also said the chief and the detective, Sgt. Linton Fontenot, were not present to add input into this matter, so they asked Edwards to contact them and invite them to the next meeting.

The board had numerous personnel action forms to approve, including:

•Moving Allen James from probational status to permanent police officer.

•The one-day suspension of Officer Allen James for not completing his shift.

•Renewing the provisional appointment of Willis Thomas as a police officer for 90 days. Board members learned he can only be approved for 180 days. He will have to take the civil service examination and successfully pass it.

•The one-day suspension of Officer Willis Thomas for not reporting to work as scheduled.

•Moving Kimberly Jack from probationary status to permanent police dispatcher.

•Renewing the provisional appointment of Michael Thomas as a police officer for 90 days.

•Moving Chateuse Richard from provisional status to probational police officer. She passed her civil service test July 16.

•The 30-day suspension of Officer Keyonna Tezeno for continuously reporting to work late.

•Moving Antanta “Ray” Soileau from recruit to probational police officer.

•The one-day suspension of Officer Antanta “Ray” Soileau for not reporting to work as scheduled.

•Moving Angela Thomas from probational jailer to permanent jailer. The board learned this process, which should have been done in 2006, had not been completed.

•Approving the 30-day leave of Sgt. Robert Deville from August 13, to September 13.

•Approving the resignation of Sgt. Robert Deville on September 12.

•Approving the termination of Officer Brent Zachary, as recommended by the chief.

•Moving Nathaniel Savoy from probationary status to permanent police officer.

•Approving the two-day suspension of Officer Nathaniel Savoy for not reporting to work.

In other business, the board had to approve the test grades for the assistant police chief’s examination. No one showed up for the test, so there were no grades on the paperwork from Baton Rouge.

The board also postponed approving its minutes of the August 13, meeting until the next meeting when a copy of the minutes would be available.

The only board member not at the meeting was Edward Arvie.