WASHINGTON— A town
meeting became heated Monday when allegations of police misconduct were
publicly discussed for the second time this year.
Activist George Fisher of
the National Action Network was at the meeting to ask that the town of
Washington dig deeper into police officers' records and unseal any expunged
records.
"We have various
problems that have occurred in this town. People have called us about police brutality,"
Fisher said.
Specifically, residents
of a predominantly black low-income neighborhood called "The Bottom"
have complained that officers have been unnecessarily rough with them. The
small Washington Police Department has added four new officers to its force
this year, replacing about two-thirds of its department.
"We don't target. We
don't target anyone," Police Chief Ronelle Broussard said. He made an
offer to Fisher. "Maybe you can ride with me and I'll take you around town
and I can show you better than tell you."
Not everyone has had
problems with the force and at least one resident spoke in favor of the
officers.
"My house was broken
into again in April. The day after, the police caught the culprit,"
20-year resident Faith Thompson said. "I've been here since '90, '92. I've
seen a total difference. I see them on foot patrol. What we need to do is pull
together. These guys are putting their lives on the line."
Alderwoman Mona Wilson
said the city, yes, needs stern officers, but they also need to be fair. Some
residents have said they have been targeted. Fisher made the case that some
officers on the force might not be fit to wear the badge.
"Any officer whose
record has been expunged, this city has a right to open their record. We do not
need these people on the streets, looking for the criminals and they may be
one," Fisher said. "They may be a child molester. They may be a
rapist. They may be thugs. They may be thieves."
Residents mainly have
complained about officer Robert Maw and Lt. Travis Guillot.
Guillot stood at the
front of the town meeting room throughout the meeting and finally addressed the
audience.
"I was arrested. I
could have sued the sheriff's office because they wrongly arrested me, but no
department likes a sue-happy officer," Guillot said, saying the charges
were dropped because there was not enough evidence to prosecute him. "I'm
not going to allow anyone to point the finger at me. I'm going to defend
myself."
In 2006, Guillot, then a
deputy with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's office, was arrested on charges of
theft of a firearm and malfeasance in office, according to court documents
provided to The Daily World.
Those charges came about
after he was videotaped apparently stealing a weapon from a home after
responding to a report of a burglar alarm activated at the residence.
Those charges were
dropped after Guillot resigned and agreed to enter a diversion program. His
records were sealed.
Residents have said Maw
and Guillot have been rough since they were hired and a March 9 incident in
which Guillot shot and killed a dog was the last straw, residents have said.
The dog was attacking a police dog, Sampson, and would not let go, Guillot has
said.
"You know, Mr.
Guillot one day you're going to kill somebody," resident Mary Ann Lavergne
said as the meeting came to an end.
Guillot responded: "Don't break the
law and you won't have a problem."