WDSU Investigates: FBI and Louisiana AG asked to investigate Harahan police
WDSU Investigates has learned that both the FBI and the Louisiana Attorney General's Office have been asked to investigate the Harahan Police Department.
Law enforcement sources have told WDSU Investigates that at least four meetings with the FBI have taken place while the attorney general's office has reportedly been contacted at least twice.
The allegations, brought forward to them are in line with those raised at recent Harahan Fire and Police civil service board meetings with board members being pressed to ask for an investigation of the Harahan PD by outside agencies.
Lisa Giardina, a civic activist, told the board that numerous officers claim they were given a quota for issuing traffic tickets, which could be against state law.
Giardina says that leads to another concern, a high turnover rate in the department with seven people fired with seven resigned in a department with 19 street level officers.
We wanted to do an on-camera interview with Harahan Police Chief Tim Walker, he declined to speak to us on the record. We also asked current Mayor Tim Baudier for an on-camera interview, he declined, saying he has seen little proof of any improprieties and he will reassess that if any proof is given.
Baudier's predecessor, former Harahan mayor Tina Miceli, has raised many of the same allegations and says she took them to authorities. Her concerns included shoddy record keeping and questionable financial practices.
WDSU Investigates has not been able to determine if any of the agencies or individuals mentioned by the former mayor have looked into her allegations.
The board was expected to take a vote on the request for the investigations last Friday, but that meeting lasted just under two minutes.
Giardina came in seconds later, but the board said it could not reopen the meeting and had to reschedule her for a later date.
No word yet on when the board will resume its hearing on the allegations and requests for investigations.