Minden Police Chief Jared McIver used the committee reports portion of Tuesday’s Webster Parish Police Jury meeting to explain the lengthy disciplinary process required for municipal police departments, saying the system is often misunderstood by the public and can be costly for cities.
The Police Jury met Tuesday, July 7, at the Webster Parish Courthouse Annex. All agenda items were approved unanimously. Juror Beverly Kennon was absent.
McIver said recent attention surrounding disciplinary matters has highlighted the need for the public to better understand how the municipal civil service system works.
“Here in the last couple years, what seems like a lot of controversy is a process that we have to follow,” McIver said.
He explained that unlike sheriff’s offices, municipal police departments are governed by Louisiana’s municipal fire and police civil service law.
“We at the Minden Police Department, and all municipalities, are bound by civil service. It’s law,” he said.
McIver said that even addressing a minor issue, such as an employee arriving late for work, requires a formal “view to discipline,” during which officers must first be advised of both their Bill of Rights and Garrity rights before questioning can begin.
He contrasted that process with sheriff’s offices.
“They’re the final say so,” McIver said of sheriffs.
He outlined the disciplinary process, which includes an internal investigation with extensive documentation, a pre-disciplinary hearing, review by the city council for disciplinary actions involving a reprimand or greater, and potential appeals to the municipal fire and police civil service board. Officers may then appeal to district court, appellate court and higher courts.
“So it’s a very long, lengthy process when it comes to disciplinary measures for municipalities,” he said.
Parish Attorney Patrick Jackson said the civil service system dates back to the administration of former Governor Huey Long.
“It used to be when somebody new got elected, everybody got fired and they hired everybody else, so they instituted civil service just to give civil servants protection for their jobs,” Jackson said. “Some would argue, including me, that it has outlived its usefulness and has really become an albatross on the government.”
McIver agreed, saying the appeals process increases costs for municipalities because cities must retain legal representation throughout each stage.
“It’s a lot of cost to the city when cities have to hire lawyers on their behalf, and it really just runs it up because of all those appeal processes,” he said. “The lawyers have to go to all those appeals to be on defense for the city.”
He said he hopes organizations such as the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police and the Louisiana Municipal Association can work together to seek legislative changes.
“I think it’s very antiquated, and I think it needs to be revisited,” McIver said. “It affects the city, it affects the budget, it affects everything, and it’s just a costly measure.”
McIver also commended first responders and utility crews for their response to Monday’s citywide power outage and severe thunderstorms. He said all available officers were called in and remained on duty until nearly midnight.
“With the lights out yesterday, we called all our guys out … we wrapped up close to midnight last night,” he said.
He also thanked local caterer Hugh Woods for preparing meals for police officers, firefighters and utility line workers when restaurants were unable to operate because of the outage.
“I went by Hugh’s house and I said, ‘Man, there’s not going to be anywhere to eat for any of our officers, our firemen, or the line workers. Can you whip us up something?’ And he did,” McIver said. “He went up there in the dark last night and cooked food for everybody. It was great of him to do that for us. I’m thankful for him.”
In other business, jurors approved payment of invoices pending review by Juror Steve Ramsey, adopted minutes from the June 2 committee meetings and regular meeting, approved the parish’s annual Off System Bridge System requirements and Resolution 008-2026, and approved a contract extension with Carlisle Thompson LLC through June 22, 2027.
A scheduled discussion with United Way of Northwest Louisiana did not take place because the organization was not represented at the meeting.
Before adjournment, Police Jury President Jim Bonsall expressed concern about the future of Minden Medical Center.
Bonsall believes the Springhill hospital is doing very well, but has grave concerns about the state of Minden Medical Center, saying, “The people need to know that there’s a problem, and they need to start talking about it. Minden needs a hospital, and I’m worried to death that it might go away. They’re deep in debt.”
“This is serious,” he added.
The Webster Parish Police Jury’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, at 10:30 AM. The public is welcome to attend and, for those who cannot, meetings are livestreamed at www.websterparishla.org.