Chataignier police chief reports string of burglaries, requests adding another officer

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Chataignier Police Chief Clint Brasseaux, at Monday’s council meeting, reported there have been a string of home and vehicle burglaries that had been reported on the morning of Thursday, July 11, along the main drag on Vine Street.
The chief said a video surveillance system captured a footage of the alleged suspect. He also said residents reported seeing an individual who matched the description of the suspect “riding in the passenger seat of a dark blue Honda Civic with a female driving it that was passing three or four times earlier that day through the apartment complex.”
Chief Brasseaux further reported it was a busier month than usual for his department with the amount of calls and requested the council to hire Billy Ortego as another police officer.
Mayor Justin Darbonne stated the issue would not be taken up by the council until next month’s meeting because Village Attorney Greg Vidrine needs to first look at everything. The mayor said, “We need to get with Greg to do all the finalization because we have to do some other things first.”
Councilwoman Debra Fontenot interjected and expressed reservations on adding another officer.
“It was brought to my attention in our budget we can have the funds to give your council a decent pay raise,” she said. “We have acquired two new cars from this administration which has cost us more insurance, so we’re paying more insurance on those vehicles. I think your council needs to have a decent pay raise before we can discuss hiring and paying anyone else. That’s just my recommendation.”
Mayor Darbonne replied, “I think more officers we have around town means more officers who will be here day and night.”
Councilwoman Fontenot further stated, “I don’t have a problem with having someone on patrol. I think it is a good thing for the citizens and the residents of the village, but my first priority is to get your council up to parish par with everyone else.”
She continued, “The previous administration gave a $300.00 raise across the board to everyone and a $50.00 raise to your council. As I’ve said before, without your council, you cannot have a meeting. Let’s take care of your council first, then we can discuss hiring and paying other people to do something in the village.”
“We’ll look into that,”
replied the mayor.
Chief Brasseaux also told the council he had purchased a laptop for each of the units. He said, “We’re going to put Warrant Now on them which is required to bring anybody to jail now.”
The council then voted to allow Chief Brasseaux to purchase two additional mount brackets for the laptops..