Troop D commander reassigned amid investigation

LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) - In the wake of an internal investigation lasting several months, State Police Troop Commander Capt. Chris Guillory has been reassigned and an interim commander has been named.

There's been a sort of cloud over Troop D since the internal investigation began last August. And now Troop D Commander Capt. Chris Guillory has been reassigned.

"With the recent and ongoing administrative investigation at Troop D in Lake Charles, effective immediately,I have reassigned Captain Chris Guillory to headquarters in Baton Rouge," said Col. Mike Edmonson, Louisiana State Police superintendent.

Region 2 Bureau of Investigations Captain Benny Broussard will serve as interim Troop D Commander.

"The Louisiana State Police is much larger than any one individual or troop...As an agency, they cannot risk having distractions create inefficiencies at any level within the organization," he said.

Recently, State Police Lt. J.B. Slaton confirmed the internal investigation had concluded but said details would be revealed if and when disciplinary actions were upheld on appeal to the State Police Commission.

"Our investigation is done and our findings are complete, but there's still an administrative process that the entire case must go through," he has said.

Edmonson said he has great confidence in the service provided to the residents of Southwest Louisiana by the troopers at Troop D and that this should not be a reflection on their dedicated public services.

Just last week, Guillory was on the agenda of the State Police Commission to appeal a letter of reprimand against him - when it was announced a settlement on that issue had been reached.

A spokesman for State Police said the reassignment of Guillory is not a demotion but a lateral transfer and that the position will be re-evaluated at the conclusion of the administrative investigation.

No word yet as to whether Guillory will appeal this decision or whether it was something mutually agreed upon.