CHARGES OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND ABUSE OPEN EBR SHERIFF RACE
Louisiana Political News Service (excerpt)

CHARGES OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND ABUSE OF A CRIMINAL SUSPECT MARK OPENING FORAY IN EBR SHERIFF RACE

Two candidates for Sheriff of East Baton Rouge parish were the drive time guests this week on the Bill Profita Show on WJBO. The guest host for the talk show was EBR District Attorney Doug Moreau. On hand for the call-in segment of the show were two candidates, former Baker Police Chief Sid Gautreaux and acting Sheriff Greg Phares.

Two callers hurled zingers at Phares. The first asked if he had ever been sued for discrimination against minority officers. He responded over the air that as Sheriff he had not. However, he failed to mention that as a member of the Baton Rouge Police force he had been sued and lost just such a case costing the taxpayers at least a million dollars.

A candidate who was not asked to participate on the show, Mark Milligan said, “we should expect our law enforcement leaders to be honest at all times. How many times has he sworn in court to tell the truth, the whole and nothing but the truth.”

Another caller asked Phares if he had ever physically abused any suspected criminals while in custody. He responded that he had not since he was Sheriff. Again, as City policeman he was demoted from Detective to uniform officer for destroying evidence and an inquiry into he and his partners role in abusing a suspect under interrogation. Milligan said, “once again, we have another case of a politician nitpicking the definition of is. We expect honesty and not parsed words. In our profession the guiding force should be the whole truth no matter what the political consequences.”

The race to replace the late Sheriff Elmer Litchfield looks to be a tough, expensive exercise and with high octane issues like these floating around it should be one of the hottest contests to watch this fall. Look for Mr. Milligan to again speak his mind in the coming months, it should be a real barn burner.