http://syn2.thecanadianpress.com:8080/mrss/feed/fcf7391a2f354311807f0501c16bde6a MSN - AP World Copyright © 2010-2018 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved. http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Wed, 02 Jul 2025 02:26:09 +0000 http://syn2.thecanadianpress.com:8080/mrss/feed/fcf7391a2f354311807f0501c16bde6a/e1d0a8d6e4804b979992134c539b3711 An Associated Press investigation has found a Louisiana State Police culture mired in patronage, impunity and, in some cases, racism. Amid a federal investigation of the 2019 beating and death of a Black motorist, some say the LSP is broken. (Oct. 26) e1d0a8d6e4804b979992134c539b3711 Tue, 26 Oct 2021 04:02:22 +0000 SHOTLIST:RESTRICTION SUMMARY: PART MUST CREDIT LOUISIANA STATE POLICE; PART MUST CREDIT GREENE FAMILY; PART MUST CREDIT OUACHITA PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE; PART MUST CREDIT OUACHITA CORRECTIONAL CENTER AND FRANKLIN PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICEASSOCIATED PRESSHouma, Louisiana - 15 October 20211. Wide of former trooper Carl Cavalier holding up uniform2. Tight of Louisiana State Police badge3. NATS, Carl Cavalier: "Union, justice and confidence."4. Tight of shoulder patch with those words on it++SOT PARTIALLY COVERED++5. SOUNDBITE (English) Carl Cavalier, Fired State Trooper: (transcript below)6. Tight of patchASSOCIATED PRESSBaton Rouge, Louisiana - 15 October 20217. Wide of memorial outside LSP headquarters8. Various details of memorial9. Wide of LSP flag fluttering in breezeASSOCIATED PRESSHouma, Louisiana - 15 October 202110. Various of Cavalier showing his Medal of Valor11. Mid of Cavalier12. Tight of hands++SOT PARTIALLY COVERED++13. SOUNDBITE (English) Carl Cavalier, Fired State Trooper: (transcript below)ASSOCIATED PRESSBaton Rouge, Louisiana - 15 October 202114. Various of LSP memorial15. Various of gate to Louisiana Department of Public Safety campusLOUISIANA STATE POLICE--MUST CREDITARCHIVE: Farmerville, Louisiana - 10 May 201916. Body camera footage of Ronald Greene17. Blood-stained badge of officer involved in Greene's arrestASSOCIATED PRESSRuston, Louisiana - 14 October 202118. SOUNDBITE (English) W. Lloyd Grafton, Use Of Force Expert: (transcript below)LOUISIANA STATE POLICE - MUST CREDIT 'LOUISIANA STATE POLICE'Richland Parish, Louisiana - 23 May 202019. Body-worn camera footage shows Louisiana state trooper running at Antonio Harris lying on the ground, hits Harris in face and attempts to apprehendLOUISIANA STATE POLICE - MUST CREDIT 'LOUISIANA STATE POLICE'Farmville, Louisiana - 10 May 201920. Body-worn camera footage of officers hitting and stunning Ronald GreeneFAMILY PHOTO--MUST CREDITDate and Location Unavailable21. Family photo of Ronald GreeneASSOCIATED PRESSRuston, Louisiana - 14 October 202122. SOUNDBITE (English) W. Lloyd Grafton, Use Of Force Expert: (transcript below)23. Wide of Grafton at desk24. Various of case files25. SOUNDBITE (English) W. Lloyd Grafton, Use Of Force Expert: (transcript below)ASSOCIATED PRESSMonroe, Louisiana - 14 October 202126. Drone footage gliding over bayouASSOCIATED PRESSBaton Rouge, Louisiana - 15 October 202127. Various of state police academyOUACHITA PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE--MUST CREDIT 'OUACHITA PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE'            Monroe, Louisiana - 10 December 202028. Booking photo of Trooper Jacob BrownASSOCIATED PRESSBaton Rouge, Louisiana - 15 October 202129. Tight of state sealASSOCIATED PRESS30. Graphic showing memo recommending that Brown be kicked out of academyASSOCIATED PRESSBaton Rouge, Louisiana - 15 October 202131. Tight of word "Academy" on signASSOCIATED PRESSMonroe, Louisiana - 13 October 202132. Various of U.S. District Court buildingLOUISIANA STATE POLICE--MUST CREDIT 'LOUISIANA STATE POLICE'Monroe, Louisiana - 31 May 201933. Body-camera footage of Brown beating motorist Aaron Larry Bowman on head with flashlightASSOCIATED PRESSHouma, Louisiana - 15 October 2021++SOT PARTIALLY COVERED++34. SOUNDBITE (English) Carl Cavalier, Fired State Trooper: (transcript below)OUACHITA CORRECTIONAL CENTER AND FRANKLIN PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE--MUST CREDIT 'OUACHITA CORRECTIONAL CENTER AND FRANKLIN PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE'35. Composite mug shots of Brown and three other troopers charged in beatingASSOCIATED PRESSBaton Rouge, Louisiana - 15 October 202136. Wide of US flag fluttering in front of LSP headquartersLOUISIANA STATE POLICE--MUST CREDIT 'LOUISIANA STATE POLICE'Exact date unknown37. Official portrait of Col. Lamar Davis, LSP superintendentASSOCIATED PRESSBaton Rouge, Louisiana - 16 October 202138. Mid of trooper's hands as he stands beside cruiser39. Mid of flashing lights on cruiserASSOCIATED PRESSBaton Rouge, Louisiana - 15 October 202140. Time-lapse video of clouds over LSP headquarters41. Wide of state flag flying in front of HQASSOCIATED PRESSBaton Rouge, Louisiana - 16 October 202142. Wide of state and police mourning flags in breeze43. Mid of flag with black and blue stripes44. Wide of people lined up for trooper's funeral procession45. Mid of Elena Branzaru holding American and "Blue Lives Matter" flags46. Various of troopers and mourners outside church++SOT PARTIALLY COVERED++47. SOUNDBITE (English) Elena Branzaru, Honoring Fallen Trooper: (transcript below)48. Wide of troopers saluting at church door49. Tight of badge with black bandASSOCIATED PRESSHouma, Louisiana - 15 October 202150. Various of Cavalier's book on table51. Various of photos on mantelpieceASSOCIATED PRESSWashington, D.C. - 28 August 202052. Photo of children holding signs at protest for GreeneASSOCIATED PRESSHouma, Louisiana - 15 October 202153. SOUNDBITE (English) Carl Cavalier, Fired State Trooper: (transcript below)54. Wide of poster from Cavalier's police academy graduation++SOT PARTIALLY COVERED++55. SOUNDBITE (English) Carl Cavalier, Fired State Trooper: (transcript below)56. Various of graduation posterASSOCIATED PRESSBaton Rouge, Louisiana - 16 October 202157. Mid of cruiser with seal on door58. Tight of seal with mottoSTORY LINE:CARL CAVALIER WORKED HARD TO EARN THIS UNIFORM AND WORE IT WITH A DEEP PRIDE.NATS, Carl Cavalier: "Union, Justice and Confidence."BUT THE WORDS ON THIS SHOULDER PATCH RING HOLLOW THESE DAYS.SOUNDBITE (English) Carl Cavalier, Fired State Trooper:"I liken it, the motto on this patch to the core values in state police. It seems like we all forgot the core values. It seems like most of us have gotten away from the core values."CAVALIER WAS RECENTLY FIRED BY THE LOUISIANA STATE POLICE FOR VIOLATING ORDERS, SEEKING PUBLICITY, DISLOYALTY AND CONDUCT UNBECOMING AN OFFICER. BUT THE MEDAL OF VALOR RECIPIENT SAYS HE WAS SACRIFICED FOR ATTEMPTING TO EXPOSE A CULTURE THAT TOLERATES RACISM, COVERS UP BRUTALITY AND REWARDS SILENCE.SOUNDBITE (English) Carl Cavalier, Fired State Trooper:"They're just mad that I'm not joining in with the blue wall of silence. ...If you're a part of the good-old-boy system, there's no WRONG you can do."CAVALIER'S ALLEGATIONS ARE EMBLEMATIC OF WHAT DOZENS OF CURRENT AND FORMER TROOPERS DESCRIBED TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AS AN ATMOSPHERE OF PATRONAGE, IMPUNITY AND, IN SOME CASES, OUTRIGHT RACISM. AMID A FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION INTO THE 2019 BEATING AND DEATH OF A BLACK MOTORIST BY SEVERAL STATE TROOPERS, SOME SAY THE ORGANIZATION IS HOPELESSLY BROKEN.SOUNDBITE (English) Lloyd Grafton, Use of Force Expert:"After a while, you begin to wonder, where are the honest people, and why aren't they standing up to be counted?"THE AP HAS FOUND THAT, OVER THE LAST DECADE, TROOPERS OR THEIR BOSSES IGNORED OR CONCEALED EVIDENCE OF BEATINGS AND IMPEDED EFFORTS TO ROOT OUT MISCONDUCT IN AT LEAST A DOZEN CASES, SEVERAL OF WHICH WERE CAPTURED ON BODY-CAMERA VIDEO. INITIALLY, THE AGENCY TOLD RONALD GREENE'S FAMILY THAT HE DIED IN A CRASH FOLLOWING A HIGH-SPEED CHASE. BUT BODY-CAM FOOTAGE THE AP OBTAINED IN MAY SHOWS GREENE WAS BEATEN, STUNNED AND DRAGGED BY HIS SHACKLES AS HE PLEADED FOR MERCY.SOUNDBITE (English) W. Lloyd Grafton, Use of Force Expert:"Well, it's a sad scenario. And it says that the people who tend to be corrupt seem to have the voice."GRAFTON IS AN EXPERT WITNESS ON THE GREENE CASE. HE SAYS THE FOOTAGE STATE POLICE FOUGHT TO WITHHOLD IS PROOF OF THE TRADITION OF PROTECTING BAD ACTORS BECAUSE THEY ARE (QUOTE) "ONE OF US."SOUNDBITE (English) W. Lloyd Grafton, Use of Force Expert:"Well, he's not one of us. If he's violating the law, he's not a law enforcement officer. He's an outlaw, and he should be weeded out. And we haven't done that, in my opinion."THE BAYOU STATE HAS LONG HAD A REPUTATION OF CORRUPTION AND CRONYISM AS DARK AND DEEP AS THE SWAMPS THAT POCKMARK ITS LANDSCAPE.THE LSP's PROBLEMS ARE APPARENT AS EARLY AS THE ACADEMY IN BATON ROUGE, WHERE ALLEGED CHEATING PROMPTED INSTRUCTORS TO SUGGEST THAT AN ENTIRE CLASS BE TOSSED OUT. ONE OF CAVALIER'S CLASSMATES WAS JACOB BROWN, SON OF A FORMER SECOND-IN-COMMAND AT THE LSP.THE AP OBTAINED A MEMO IN WHICH A SERGEANT OVERSEEING THE CLASS CALLED JACOB BROWN DECEPTIVE AND DISRESPECTFUL _ "TRAITS OF A TOXIC EMPLOYEE THAT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE WITH HIS TRAINING." THE YOUNGER BROWN DID STAY, AND GRADUATED.IN SEPTEMBER, A FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTED HIM FOR STRIKING A BLACK MOTORIST 18 TIMES IN THE HEAD WITH A FLASHLIGHT.SOUNDBITE (English) Carl Cavalier, Fired State Trooper:"Four of the guys that were named in the unlawful beatings of the motorists were in my academy."STATE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT LAMAR DAVIS HAS REORGANIZED HIS STAFF, OVERHAULED USE OF FORCE POLICIES AND MANDATED ALL TROOPERS ATTEND TRAINING SESSIONS ON INTRINSIC BIAS. BUT HE ACKNOWLEDGES IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO STAVE OFF GROWING CALLS FOR A U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT "PATTERN AND PRACTICE" INVESTIGATION.GRAFTON SAYS THE CORRUPTION IS MAKING THINGS MORE DANGEROUS FOR ALL OFFICERS.ON A RECENT SATURDAY, ELENA BRANZARU (bran-ZEH-rah) CAME OUT TO PAY TRIBUTE TO TROOPER ADAM GAUBERT, WHO WAS AMBUSHED IN HIS CRUISER. SHE SAYS A BAD FEW SHOULD NOT TARNISH THE BRAVERY OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF GOOD COPS.SOUNDBITE (English) Elena Branzaru, Honoring Fallen Trooper:"Most people run away from gunfire fights. The police run towards these types of actions. And that, to me, is a heroic act, in and of itself."CAVALIER WAS INITIALLY SUSPENDED FOR SELF-PUBLISHING A BOOK TITLED NWB. IT STANDS FOR 'N-WORD WITH A BADGE.'CAVALIER BELIEVES THAT IF THE TROOP HAD MOVED ON SOME OF THESE OTHER OFFICERS AS QUICKLY AS IT DID ON HIM, RONALD GREENE MIGHT STILL BE ALIVE.SOUNDBITE (English) Carl Cavalier, Fired Trooper:"It's just a culture that just needs to be broken up, dismantled and broken down."STILL, CAVALIER IS FIGHTING TO GET HIS JOB BACK.SOUNDBITE (English) Carl Cavalier, Fired State Trooper:"We need more officers who have the courage to stand up when they see something wrong, to say something when they see something wrong."AND TO UPHOLD THE IDEALS OF UNION, JUSTICE AND CONFIDENCE.ALLEN BREED, ASSOCIATED PRESS, HOUMA, LOUISIANA===========================================================Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: info@aparchive.com(ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service (iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory. An Associated Press investigation has found a Louisiana State Police culture mired in patronage, impunity and, in some cases, racism. Amid a federal investigation of the 2019 beating and death of a Black motorist, some say the LSP is broken. (Oct. 26) Critics: Louisiana State Police culture broken