Louisiana Town Council Eliminates Last Police Officer Position

The Sorrento Town Council has voted to terminate the town’s last remaining police officer and give him back pay for working as assistant police chief for nearly three weeks without receiving a salary.

Mayor Mike Lambert tells The Advocate after Tuesday’s meeting where, in a 4-1 vote, the council accepted his recommendation to terminate Assistant Police Chief Ricky Smith.

Lambert cited budget issues and the police department’s inability to secure liability insurance for its vehicles and officers as a reason for his recommendation.

Funding for the police department was drastically cut July 22 when the council amended the town’s 2014-15 budget by eliminating salary line items for police officers and a part-time police clerk.

The amendment also eliminated Police Department funding after July 31.