Mark Tyson
Member
Abita Springs (LA) Police Department employees selling commisions, badges, guns.
08/24/2003
Acting Abita Chief accused of selling guns in N.O.
08:52 AM CDT on Wednesday, August 20, 2003
WWLTV.com
The latest allegations in the expanding probe into the Abita Springs Police Department are now crossing to the Southshore as the St. Tammany District Attorney is now accusing the acting police chief of selling guns on the streets of New Orleans.
“It is very interesting that Saturday night, the acting chief, at five in the morning is in the 6700 block of Chef Menteur Highway, a known drug area, an area where crack cocaine is customarily sold,†said District Attorney Walter Reed. “The acting chief's explanation for being there and having his car hijacked was that he was looking for a prostitute. I do not believe that.â€
Reed said he was shocked when he heard that acting police Chief Benny Garcia claimed he was carjacked. Reed said he believes Garcia was really in New Orleans to sell guns.
“When you throw in the mix of all of these weapons, and we know that some of these weapons were being bought and sold, I have to believe that the chief was down there in the process of selling guns when he was robbed and carjacked.â€
The district attorney said Abita Springs police badges and a department shotgun were also stolen from Garcia's truck.
“It's very, very serious,†said Reed. “It's very disturbing to think that one law enforcement officer is willing to sell to criminals guns that may end up killing other police officers or killing innocent people.â€
Garcia and Lieutenant Panagiotis Kondylis were arrested Sunday night on illegal gun charges. Reed said his investigators are continuing to track down new leads about the arsenal of weapons the two officers had, and were allegedly selling.
At a Tuesday night meeting, Abita Springs town officials are planning to take a step they hope will help get their embattled police department under control.
Chief James Lala
Police Chief James Lala, who's accused of selling commissions in his department for personal profit, is an elected official and cannot be fired.
Because of that limitation, the Abita Council will introduce an ordinance calling for a town vote to make the police chief an appointed position.
Abita Springs Mayor Louis Fitzmorris is also calling for Lala and Garcia to resign.
“We need to move forward,†said Fitzmorris. “We need to put the trust back in the department, and in the town. I think the community expects that and wants that.â€
The town council is expected to vote next month on that measure to call an election to make the police chief's job appointive.
Also, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms confirmed Tuesday that it is involved in the probe, and is looking for possible federal firearms violations.
Police Chief Lala resigns over sales of apprxoimately 250 badges and commisions. The department has only 6 paid commisioned employees.
08/24/2003
Acting Abita Chief accused of selling guns in N.O.
08:52 AM CDT on Wednesday, August 20, 2003
WWLTV.com
The latest allegations in the expanding probe into the Abita Springs Police Department are now crossing to the Southshore as the St. Tammany District Attorney is now accusing the acting police chief of selling guns on the streets of New Orleans.
“It is very interesting that Saturday night, the acting chief, at five in the morning is in the 6700 block of Chef Menteur Highway, a known drug area, an area where crack cocaine is customarily sold,†said District Attorney Walter Reed. “The acting chief's explanation for being there and having his car hijacked was that he was looking for a prostitute. I do not believe that.â€
Reed said he was shocked when he heard that acting police Chief Benny Garcia claimed he was carjacked. Reed said he believes Garcia was really in New Orleans to sell guns.
“When you throw in the mix of all of these weapons, and we know that some of these weapons were being bought and sold, I have to believe that the chief was down there in the process of selling guns when he was robbed and carjacked.â€
The district attorney said Abita Springs police badges and a department shotgun were also stolen from Garcia's truck.
“It's very, very serious,†said Reed. “It's very disturbing to think that one law enforcement officer is willing to sell to criminals guns that may end up killing other police officers or killing innocent people.â€
Garcia and Lieutenant Panagiotis Kondylis were arrested Sunday night on illegal gun charges. Reed said his investigators are continuing to track down new leads about the arsenal of weapons the two officers had, and were allegedly selling.
At a Tuesday night meeting, Abita Springs town officials are planning to take a step they hope will help get their embattled police department under control.
Chief James Lala
Police Chief James Lala, who's accused of selling commissions in his department for personal profit, is an elected official and cannot be fired.
Because of that limitation, the Abita Council will introduce an ordinance calling for a town vote to make the police chief an appointed position.
Abita Springs Mayor Louis Fitzmorris is also calling for Lala and Garcia to resign.
“We need to move forward,†said Fitzmorris. “We need to put the trust back in the department, and in the town. I think the community expects that and wants that.â€
The town council is expected to vote next month on that measure to call an election to make the police chief's job appointive.
Also, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms confirmed Tuesday that it is involved in the probe, and is looking for possible federal firearms violations.
Police Chief Lala resigns over sales of apprxoimately 250 badges and commisions. The department has only 6 paid commisioned employees.
