Indicted Crowley police chief to stay in office

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Jimmy Broussard, indicted by an Acadia Parish grand jury Wednesday on six felony charges including malfeasance in office and obstruction of justice, will continue to serve as Crowley’s chief of police, according to Mayor Tim Monceaux.
“We are continuing to operate on a day-to-day basis with usual city business,” Monceaux said. “There is a justice system in place that we must allow to work.”
Alderman Brad Core, chairman of the city council’s Public Safety Committee, had no comment on the situation.
Chief Broussard’s attorney, Bill Goode, of Lafayette, said he began working with Broussard while the charges were under investigation, and, although he hadn’t seen the particulars of the indictment, he said he was confident “he’s not guilty of these crimes and we’re going to prevail.”
“I’ve worked with a lot of chiefs of police over the last 49 years, and Chief Broussard is one of the few chiefs of police with whom I’ve dealt who truly cares more about his people, his officers and his support staff than he does himself. It’s not an ego trip for him,” said Goode.
“I can’t imagine him doing this, not based upon what I’ve seen professionally with him.”
The indictments were based on actions from Jan. 1, 2020, through Oct. 31, 2020. The police chief is accused of intentionally performing duties in an unlawful manner and tampering with evidence “with the specific intent of distorting the results of a criminal investigation or proceeding,” the indictment said.
Malfeasance in office carries a maximum sentence of five years and a fine of $5,000, according to state law. Broussard, as a Peace Officer Standards and Training certified law enforcement officer, would also have his P.O.S.T. certification revoked if convicted.
When the obstruction of justice involves a criminal proceeding in which a sentence of imprisonment necessarily at hard labor for any period less than a life sentence may be imposed, the offender may be fined not more than fifty thousand dollars, or imprisoned for not more than twenty years at hard labor, or both.
First-degree injuring of public records carries a maximum sentence of five years and a fine of $5,000, while sentencing guidelines for obstruction of justice depend on the severity of the case impeded.
Broussard was first elected in a runoff election in April 2016 to complete K.P. Gibson’s unexpired term after he was elected as Acadia Parish Sheriff.
Broussard was then reelected in November 2018. His current term is slated to run through 2022, according to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office.