White to appeal firing

Mayor Kip Holden says that, technically, he didn’t fire Baton Rouge Police Chief Dewayne White on Feb. 6. White and his attorney, Jill Craft, say the opposite. In any event, Holden made the firing official following a hearing this morning, although White plans to appeal to the civil service board. “I stand ready to serve this community,” White said shortly before Holden publicly announced his decision. Craft says White “started a lot of good work” and “certainly would like the opportunity to complete it” when asked why White would still want his job. “I think he feels very strongly that people need to know what’s going on,” whether he continues as chief or not, she adds. White declined to answer questions during the hearing today, instead focusing on refuting 14 justifications for his dismissal outlined in a letter released by Holden last week. For example, White was accused of not being truthful about the extent of the security detail provided to Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakhan during a visit to Baton Rouge last year. White says he assigned one officer and did not learn until later that the officer allowed others to join the detail and record overtime. After a recess, Holden returned to announce his decision to fire White and asked the public to “keep an open mind” regarding White’s “gross misrepresentations.” After Holden’s decision, people in the audience were given 45 minutes to vent their concerns. While a few who spoke supported Holden’s decision, most said White was unfairly targeted for trying to reform the department. Several black speakers commended White’s outreach to the community. —David Jacobs