Due to budget constraints, the police chief in one small Jefferson Davis Parish community is forced to lay off his entire force. The decision was made following a contentious council meeting earlier this week. Kay Hebert, the mayor pro tem of Elton, says Police Chief Bruce Lemelle had no other choice.
“The police chief himself laid off his department, and the reason for that is because his budget has been exceeded,” Hebert explained.
Hebert says Lemelle has already gone through all the money that the council had allocated to the police department – something that Lemelle disputes.
“We gave him a budget in excess of $317,000, and that has been expended,” Hebert said.
Elton has a population of about 800 people. Hebert says Lemelle knew what his department was budgeted for, and he overextended it.
“That budget was under the premise of his salary, one police officer and one dispatcher. He continued to work two dispatchers, himself and other officers,” Hebert said.
Since the position of police chief is elected in the Town of Elton, Lemelle is now the only employee in the town’s police department. Law enforcement calls in Elton will now be handled by the Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office, which will mean increased response times.
