NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT CRIME DOWNGRADING SCANDAL
After an initial report filed by the MCC, NOPD Chief of Police Edwin Compass invited the MCC to participate in an investigation of downgrading reported crimes in the NOPD’s 1st District. The investigation revealed that 42% of crimes reported in the 1st District were downgraded. Five NOPD officers, including the 1st District Commander, were terminated as a result of the investigation. The MCC called for a thorough examination of crime downgrading throughout the entire department, but NOPD Chief Compass refused expansion of the investigation. In the end, the five officers appealed their terminations and were reinstated with the NOPD, and, although the problem of downgrading crime statistics was proven, the full extent of downgrading continues to be unknown.
CAUSEWAY LAW ENFORCEMENT BRIDGE TOLL PASS SCANDAL
Tips to the MCC and a subsequent investigation revealed that a substantial number of individuals had forged public documents claiming that they were law enforcement officers in order to illegally receive free passage on the Causeway Bridge. Louisiana law allows for full-time, paid law enforcement officers with arrest powers to drive across the Causeway Bridge free of charge 24 hours a day whether on or off duty. As a result of this MCC investigation, numerous arrests have been made and the Causeway has seen a decrease in the number of applications for free law enforcement passes worth approximately $200,000 per year. Some of the more notable arrests in this case include Crescent City Connection Executive Director Alan Levasseur, City of Harahan Director of Code Enforcement Jeffrey Charlet, and politically connected East Jefferson Levee District Field Forman Richard Arnoult. In March of 2006, Arnoult pled guilty to falsifying public records, and Charlet pled guilty to impersonating a police officer in January of 2007. Charges against Levassuer were dismissed in May of 2004.
HARAHAN POLICE DEPARTMENT ELECTION CAMPAIGN FRAUD
As a direct result of a tips received by the MCC, Ray Uloth, a former police officer and candidate running for Chief of Police in Harahan, was indicted on two counts of violating Louisiana campaign finance laws. Mr. Uloth’s campaign manager owned a construction company and told 10 of his employees that he would reimburse their donations if they each contributed $400 to the campaign. One of the employees contacted the MCC complaining about the illicit donations. The MCC investigated the case and forwarded the findings to the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office who filed charges against Mr. Uloth. Mr. Uloth ultimately finished last in the election and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges in connection with his campaign spending.