EPPJ employee suspended after his arrest

By: CARISSA HEBERT

Managing Editor

The Evangeline Parish Police Jury chose to suspend a veteran employee, with over 20 years of service to the parish, without pay during an emergency meeting early Monday morning, May 19, after learning the employee had been arrested in St. Landry Parish on suspicion of drug activity.

Members of the jury present at the meeting (Bob Manuel, Davis Manuel, Ronald T. Doucet, Lamar Johnson, Eric Soileau, Brian Vidrine and Richard Thomas), learned Soileau and Chester Granger, public works superintendent, had both attempted to contact Junior Dallas Richard the day before and on Monday morning, but learned Richard remained incarcerated in St. Landry Parish.

The discussion centered on issues of what type of action the jury could take to whether the jury could do anything without Richard being notified of this meeting.

President Manuel said the jury did have a message for all employees and said they would not tolerate drugs in the work place. He said this was a serious issue and a problem in this country. In regards to Richard, he said he was a long-term employee with the jury.

Manuel also asked District Attorney Brent Coreil to check on the case with St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office and report back to the jury. He said this information would be discussed in executive session at the jury’s next meeting.

The jury decided to suspend Richard without pay pending further information on Richard’s case.