A proposed state law that would reform the police civil service promotion process for high-ranking positions in Lafayette to mirror the setup in Lake Charles has received early support from a Senate committee.
Senate Bill 142 by Sen. Brach Myers, R-Lafayette, would allow any qualified employee ranked at sergeant or above who passes the civil service exam to be considered for the promotion to major at the Lafayette Police Department. It would also add a requirement for annual reviews by the police chief for anyone holding the position, which supporters billed as adding a layer of accountability.
The current law requires civil service candidates at the Police Department to be considered for promotions based on “departmental seniority” and does not require an annual review process once someone is named a major…