Community meeting set at MLK

Submitted by admin on Thu, 04/17/2008 - 16:37

A community meeting was held Tuesday, April 15, at the Martin Luther King Center, Tuesday, April 15, at 6 p.m.

Members of Blackman Seven, the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) and National Action Network gathered with members of the community to discuss the alleged racial profiling by the Ville Platte Police Department and judicial system of Evangeline Parish and excessive bonds. The discussion did include a possible recall of Chief Neal Lartigue and making a complaint that Lartigue doesn’t live in town.

Over 40 complaints were taken by the ACLU, according to Arthur Sampson, a concerned citizen. He also said another meeting has been called for Tuesday, April 29, at the MLK Center at 6 p.m.

George Fisher, Blackman Seven, said city officials were invited but no one came to the meeting. He said voters are watching, and the next election will surprise these leaders. Fisher said policing is not just about drugs; there are many other crimes being committed. He said police departments in Ville Platte, Mamou and Bunkie are racially profiling, and its’ time for a new day. He said they are asking for all three chiefs to step down or to attend a school on policing. He said they need to learn how to talk to people with dignity and to listen to people. He said its time they take complaints and stop being mad at the people. He said they need to hear these people and not talk back to them.

Sampson said Fisher has been an adopted resident of this community for over 40 years, and Fisher is not an outsider. In response to criticism, he said police officers could bring outsiders in to investigate and assist in drug buys, and they could bring outsiders in to assist them with the injustice being done here.

Fisher said complaints of abuse from officers have been filed with the FBI, ACLU, U.S. Federal Attorney’s Office and others. He said it was time to stop these abuses.

Chief Neal Lartigue said his department did not have this problem until they started cracking down on drug dealers. He said his department will continue to fight crime and continue its war against narcotics.

“We will not be discouraged by anyone,” Lartigue said. “I was elected by the people, and I will run the department as I see fit.”