One thread of an email exchange between former Baton Rouge Police Chief Dewayne White and Mayor Kip Holden may provide insight into allegations of micromanagement of the police chief’s personnel decisions by the mayor’s office.
White’s attorney, Jill Craft, says those emails are just the beginning of micromanagement.
“There’s a lot more emails than that,” Craft says.
The mayor’s office isn’t commenting. The thread of emails ends Jan. 25, or 12 days before White was reportedly informed by Chief Administrative Officer William Daniel that he was fired. They are the last emails the city-parish attorney’s office provided Daily Report in a public records request for emails between White and the mayor’s office between Jan. 1 and Feb. 6, when White was given notice of his termination.
On Jan. 24, White emailed Daniel and requested the next day off. Daniel granted the request that day, and brought up the issue of transfers in the police department. “Would you please discuss those with me prior to putting them into effect?” Daniel writes. White responds that he is promoting two police officers. “I would still prefer that you come in Monday and discuss,” Daniel writes that evening after thanking him for the notice, adding, “enjoy your day off.” White responds the next morning: “Yes, sir.” And then the emails stop.
There is no indication any email exchanges got as heated as White’s Monday public hearing appeal of his firing. On Friday, Daniel confirmed to Daily Report that on Feb. 4 White alerted the mayor’s office via email his disciplinary action for a white police officer who used a racial slur at the scene of a homicide. However, neither that email—nor any other emails that Craft claims exist regarding other disciplinary matters—was returned to Daily Report as part of its open records request.
Cindy Bohrer of the Parish Attorney’s Office says the returned emails stop on Jan. 25 because those that were later exchanged involve open criminal cases. Earlier emails show White seeking guidance from the mayor’s office, or giving it notice of media reports on the department. On Jan. 23, White wrote to Daniel asking if he should attend the Metro Council meeting that evening, saying: “If not, I would prefer to avoid the media.”
Daniel responded to say that he thought White should attend it.
“The issue of consolidation (of the police department and EBR Sheriff’s Office) is up for debate and you might be needed,” he writes.
And on Jan. 16, White wrote to Daniel to tell him of a TV news report that the police union was alerting its members to about the escort of Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakhan to Baton Rouge.
“It is really a sad commentary,” White says.
“Must be a rerun,” Daniel responds. “What’s left to talk about?”
White replies that he denied the use of overtime to provide an escort to Farrakhan, adding he doesn’t know what the TV report will be about.
“They can sensationalize most anything with half-truths and innuendo,” he writes.
