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INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: Slaughter Mayor caught on tape offering monetary rewards for warrants

6 years 11 months 2 days ago Wednesday, April 26 2017 Apr 26, 2017 April 26, 2017 5:34 PM April 26, 2017 in News
Source: WBRZ

SLAUGHTER- The Slaughter mayor is under fire again for offering to pay police officers money for each warrant they execute in town.

In a recording obtained by the WBRZ Investigative Unit Mayor Robert Jackson can be heard offering up to $25 for each warrant. Paying law enforcement a financial reward for warrants is illegal.

According to RS 40:2401.1, "No state agency, political subdivision, or law enforcement agency shall offer a financial reward or other benefit to a law enforcement officer which is determined by or based on the number of citations issued."

When the Investigative Unit contacted Mayor Jackson today, he said, "I have no interest in speaking with you."

The line quickly disconnected.

In the recording obtained, Jackson says, "Everyone makes $25 bucks a piece...each warrant. I thought it would be a good thing for officers to make extra money."

Jackson was talking to Assistant Slaughter Police Chief Bobby Hopson. Hopson recorded that conversation.

"You need some extra money, go pick up three or four people," Mayor Jackson was recorded saying. "You can write your own check. We get paid, and you get paid. You can't say it ain't fair."

Last week, The Investigative Unit reported that in that recording Jackson told multiple officers to write at least 40 tickets per month. Maintaining an informal or formal quota system is also illegal.

"It's recorded, obviously it's me speaking, yeah I did it," Jackson said last week when confronted about it. "I didn't say 40 ticket minimum quota, 40 interactions per month."

The audio recording also has Mayor Jackson mentioning the City of Zachary and their chief.

"In Zachary, they gonna get paid, you're gonna get paid," Jackson said. "You work for Slaughter, same deal. David McDavid agreed to it, and aid that's fine with me."

However, when the Investigative Unit contacted McDavid, he said he made no deals with the Town of Slaughter. He also said he didn't want to get involved in this mess, and added he does not pay his officers to execute warrants.

Slaughter Police Chief Walter Smith said this has been going on for years.

A town meeting is scheduled in Slaughter for Wednesday evening. An item to discuss recent events and the acceptance of two officers' resignations is on the agenda. 

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