Louisiana Police Oversight Board Revokes 15 Officers’ Badges, Including One Involved in 2015 Shooting of 6-Year-Old
In a significant move towards police accountability, the Louisiana police oversight board has permanently revoked the badges of 15 officers, including one involved in the tragic shooting of a 6-year-old boy back in 2015. This decision comes after years of struggles to hold problematic police officers accountable in the state.
Officer Norris Greenhouse, Jr., who was part of the incident that resulted in the death of the young boy, had initially been ordered by a judge to have his badge stripped. However, this condition was not properly recognized by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST), highlighting the flaws in the system’s ability to identify and address problematic officers.
It was only when Greenhouse’s case was brought to light by investigative reporting in April that POST finally took action. Shockingly, it was revealed that Greenhouse was just one of the 180 police officers in Louisiana who had been convicted of serious offenses or had lost their jobs but had not been permanently decertified. This alarming number exposed the deep-rooted issues in the state’s approach to holding officers accountable.
Louisiana has long resisted implementing a ban on police officers unless they are convicted of a felony, which has allowed problematic officers to remain in the system for far too long. Moreover, the slow pace of the system, waiting for officers to exhaust their appeals, further delays the process of decertification.
However, in Greenhouse’s case, he pled guilty to negligent homicide and malfeasance, forfeiting his right to appeal, which expedited the decertification process. It is concerning that no one was required to inform POST of the details of Greenhouse’s plea. Unlike in other states, Louisiana police officers are not obligated to self-report their convictions to POST, and there is no requirement for prosecutors or judges to share this information either.
Another officer involved in the shooting, Derrick Stafford, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 40 years. While behind bars, his POST certification has lapsed, but it has not been permanently revoked.
The revocation of certifications for problematic officers has been a rare occurrence in Louisiana, with an average of fewer than 10 decertifications per year. However, since the publication of a list in April that exposed over 130 officers with convictions in the last decade, POST has increased the pace of decertifications.
Among the notable officers who had their licenses permanently revoked were former Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Van Ballard, former DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Joseph Procell, and former St. Martinville Police Officer Codi Dodge. Their convictions range from rape and malfeasance to excessive force.
The revocation of badges for these officers is a step in the right direction for accountability in Louisiana. However, systemic changes are also necessary to prevent officers involved in misconduct from escaping consequences. The requirement to report convictions and the timely process of decertification should be fundamental in holding police officers to a higher standard.
This move by the Louisiana police oversight board serves as a reminder of the importance of a robust and transparent system of accountability within law enforcement. The community deserves to have trust in the police, and ensuring that officers who engage in serious offenses are held accountable will contribute to rebuilding that trust.
