NEWS > 29 September 2006

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The Daily News Online
29 September 2006

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Mayoral candidates see ways of

This is the last in a series on questions posed to Bogalusa's four mayoral candidates at last week's forum. This installment concerns police corruption and abuse.)
BOGALUSA - Regardless of whether you are a citizen or official, there is one subject in city government that few want to have to face - corruption and abuse within a police department.

However, the subject is enough of a concern that the question on how, if elected, Bogalusa's four mayoral candidates would deal with the issue was posed during last week's forum sponsored by the United Ministers Alliance of Bogalusa.

Although each had varying ideas about the problem, candidates Barry Bolton, Dale Kennett, incumbent Mack McGehee and Johni Miles all agreed it is something that must be addressed when raised.

To combat the problem, Bolton said the city needed good employees who are properly trained.

"I will make sure administrative heads are qualified," he said. "We need to compare our actions to other cities that have been successful fighting corruption.

"We have to have a no tolerance policy on police corruption. We must work together to accomplish this."

Miles would extend her drug testing plans to include the police department and put all city employees through character training.

"I've seen police department character training in Oklahoma, and it works," she said. "If someone does something illegal, they need to be held accountable."

History has shown the city has had corruption and abuse problems within the police department over the years.

While some are directly traceable to racial tensions in the 1960s, there have been corruption incidents since then.

McGehee stood on actions over his eight years in office as how he deals with police corruption and abuse.

"My record speaks for itself," he said. "I will not tolerate it. There are bad apples in every basket. We find them, fine them and fire them."

Kennett echoed many of his same sentiments on corruption that he has on dealing with the drug problem.

He also reiterated a central part of his platform - sweeping change - as a solution to problems he sees in a defective administration.

"The police department is in real need of help," Kennett said. "We need change. We need a revolution.

"Corruption starts at the top. We have to have change from the top, down. The [police] chief is under direction of the mayor."

Forum moderator R.L. Palmer stopped Kennett and warned him against direct attacks at other candidates.

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Article sourced from

The Daily News Online29 September 2006

Mayoral candidates see ways of

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The Daily News Online
29 September 2006