Mayor, Police Chief, Union All Take a Lickin’

Showdown Has Lots of Losers, No Winners

BATON ROUGE — On Monday, Mayor-President Kip Holden upheld the firing of Police Chief Dewayne White after a public hearing that was unlike any in recent memory.  Now White’s attorney Jill Craft says the veteran police officer will appeal Holden’s decision before the Municipal Police Civil Service Board.
In the aftermath of the termination hearing, which was held before a packed audience in the Governmental Complex, no one seemed to come out ahead — especially the Mayor-President, the Police Chief, and Police Union president Chris Stewart, who sided with Holden.
After Holden’s hearing adjourned, four Metro Council members held an impromptu news conference supporting White.  A number of citizens spoke on White’s behalf.  Likewise, callers to local talk radio stations generally supported White.
The drama had many ironies — with a black Mayor-President firing a white police chief who has widespread support in the black community and among black political leaders.  On taking office nearly two years ago, White said some police officers were racists.  In the recent election, many rank and file police officers supported Holden and reportedly asked the Mayor to fire White.
Now the Municipal Civil Service Board has the case, but Holden says they have no authority to hear White’s appeal.