Metro Council member Joel Boé says he is going to wait two more weeks to introduce a proposal to form a committee to study the viability of consolidating the Baton Rouge Police Department and East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office.
“I don’t have any plans of delaying it much further than that,” Boé says.
The District 9 councilman in November called for forming a committee early this year, comprised of three council members and representatives of BRPD, the sheriff’s office and Mayor Kip Holden’s office.
The “Fight, Not Fear” campaign, bankrolled by businessman and political activist Lane Grigsby, had at that time already been advertising for weeks the proposed benefits for unifying the two departments. Because the Metro Council convenes tonight with four new members—John Delgado, Chauna Banks-Daniel, Buddy Amoroso and Ryan Heck—and has other “high-profile” items on its agenda already, Boé says he didn’t want to rush the committee’s introduction.
Both Boé and council member Tara Wicker have stated they are interested in serving the committee to study consolidation issues. Other items of interest on tonight’s agenda include:
• A public hearing and vote on a proposal for the city-parish to purchase the former Woman’s Hospital campus for $10 million, and convert it into BRPD headquarters. A 150-day inspection period, costing $200,000, would follow. If the building is deemed unsuitable, the inspection deposit is refundable up to $100,000.
• Appointing CATS board members to the nine available seats; four members—Chairman Jared Loftus, Dalton Honore, Deborah Roe and Marla Williams—are up for reappointment, among 16 total candidates. Daily Report has more on the potential shakeup on the board here.
The Metro Council meeting begins at 4 p.m. on the third floor of City Hall, 222 St. Louis St. The full agenda can be found here.
Today’s poll question: Do you support a proposal for the city-parish to purchase the former Woman’s Hospital campus for $10 million?
