Bunkie City Council files motion to force Corner to provide requested information on police officer certification

   The feud between the Bunkie City Council and Police Chief Bobby Corner took an unusual turn during the council’s special meeting this past Tuesday when it voted to take legal action against the chief. A hearing on a “Writ of Mandamus” will be heard at 2 p.m. on Jan. 7 in the courtroom of 12th Judicial District Judge Kerry Spruill.

   The council met in closed-session for 20 minutes before coming back into open session to report they would file a “Writ of Mandamus” asking Spruill  to order Corner to provide requested information to the City Council.

    Councilman Travis Armand made a motion that asked City Attorney Jim Lee to file the writ. Lee filed the motion Wednesday.

   Councilwoman Brenda Sampson seconded the motion, which was approved on a 4-1 vote with Councilman Lem Thomas voting against the measure.

    The petition asks for certifications of police officers in firearms training, Taser training and police academy training. The writ also asked that Corner be required to recommend termination of officers that do not meet state certification requirements. It further contends that Corner “has failed and even refused to provide the required proof, having stated that as chief of police if he says it has been done that is all the council should need.”

   The council said La. RS 40:2405 states that “the employment of the police officer is a one-year probation period which allows the officer to become certified in particular categories in order to employed as a police officer on a permanent basis.”

  “It doesn’t bother me that the council wants the information,” Corner said on Thursday. “I will bring the personnel records to the hearing and I will provide them to the judge, if so ordered.”

  Corner said all the council members had to do was stop by the Bunkie Police Department and he would have provided the needed information. He felt the council had disrespected him by not stopping by and asking for the records.

   “The council knows I need police officers but they keep blasting me in public meetings,” Corner continued. “All they had to do is stop and ask, but they pass in front of the station and don’t stop. This is a power move.”

  The decision to take legal action stems from a heated council meeting on Dec. 10. At that meeting, Corner told council members they have to trust him when he says the  officers are certified. The council  asked for copies of the certifications, but said Corner only provided a check list indicating they were certified.

   “I will run that department the way I want to run it,” Corner said at the Dec. 10 meeting. 

  The council’s writ also says “it purchased liability insurance through the Louisiana Municipal Risk Association (LMRA) to cover the actions of the police employees. The city is required to provide LMRA the name of employees which are covered under the liability policy.” 

   Corner was at the Dec. 15 meeting, but didn’t speak in public and was not allowed into the executive session.

   City officials refused to comment on the issue due to the fact that it involves pending litigation.

  State law says a “writ of mandamus may be issued in cases where the law provides no relief by ordinary means or where the delay involved in obtaining ordinary relief may cause injustice...”

  Armand, Sampson and Councilman-at-Large Greg Prudhomme said they would not vote to hire another police officer until they saw the proper certification.