Councilwoman calls for federal investigation of BRPD

The testimony of fired Baton Rouge Police Chief Dewayne White was enough today to convince Metro Councilwoman C. Denise Marcelle that a federal investigation of the department is needed. “I believe this opens it up for the feds to come in,” she says. “I think that needs to happen, and I am at least willing to discuss it because these are some serious allegations.” During a public hearing this morning, White says he has addressed the “vestiges of racism that have torn this department apart” and described disciplining a police officer who used a racial slur at the scene of a homicide. “We have a serious race problem here, whether you want to acknowledge it or not,” White said to Holden. According to White, the department has been under a federal consent decree for past racial and gender discrimination since 1975. Kelley Morgan, a black woman who spoke today on White’s behalf, says the chief went to bat for her after she suffered discrimination. However, Holden said White actually failed to conduct a proper investigation of Morgan’s complaints, suggested White made an improper loan to Morgan through White’s secretary, and denied an allegation that Holden ordered White to fire her. Holden scoffed at the idea that he, as a black man, would support discrimination. “You chose to misrepresent my record today,” Holden said to White. “I hope you tell the truth later.” —David Jacobs and Stephanie Riegel