‘Expect a longer wait time’: Town lays off entire police department except for chief

ELTON, La. (KPLC/Gray News) - Financial issues have forced a town council in Louisiana to lay off nearly its entire police force.

The Elton Town Council announced during a long Wednesday night meeting that the entire police department will be laid off, excluding the chief, due to budget issues.

“They told me today that they didn’t have enough money to pay for my department. I would be the only one working in the department,” Elton Police Chief Bruce Lemelle said.

The meeting was a contentious one filled with budget questions and utility increases.

Ultimately, the town council decided on the police department layoffs.

“They say I spent $317,000 in seven months, ain’t no way I did that. They’re telling me I don’t have enough funds to keep my department open, but we have all these other accounts that have money in them, over $600,000,” Lemelle said.

Assistant Chief Leric Istre is one of those officers losing his job. He’s been with the department for 10 years, and can’t believe this is happening.

“I’ve been here since 2015. I love being the assistant chief. I love the town, I love the people, I just don’t love the administration next door,” Istre said. “They’re low-rating us, saying that we don’t do our jobs when we do do our jobs. They don’t like how we do our jobs. It’s just countless, countless backlashes.”

The decision has raised several questions among concerned residents regarding law enforcement in their town.

According to the Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office, it will now be handling calls in the Elton area, but longer response times can be expected.

“You’re just gonna have to expect a longer wait time. They’re not going to have a person here 24/7,” a spokesperson for the Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office said.

Council members expressed sadness for the harsh cuts, which they say they’ve been forced to make.

“We don’t have any other money, and that breaks my heart,” Councilwoman Kay Hebert said.

The council also said they will have to make harsh cuts to town hall staff after their upcoming audit in September.