NEW ORLEANS: HONORING A HERO AND SHAMING A ZERO
Officer’s last day after 35 years of honorable service marked by a shocking act of intolerance and possibly racism …
According to published reports in the New Orleans’ Times-Picayune …
“With minutes left in the last shift of his 35-year New Orleans police career, Sgt. Bobby Guidry received a call from a supervisor telling him he had been suspended for wearing the wrong uniform shirt, the veteran officer said.”
“The punishment will not affect Guidry's pension or benefits, but, as it stands now, he will not receive his retired police commission and will not be accepted into the NOPD's reserve unit, for which he had applied, Young said.”
“[Police Department spokesman Bob] Young disagreed with the term ‘suspended,’ but he said Guidry's permanent record will reflect that he ‘retired under investigation.’"
Why he wore the “blue shirt” rather than the official “black shirt … ”
“Instead of the standard-issue all-black uniform, Guidry, a veteran officer in the city's Uptown 2nd District, chose the powder-blue uniform shirt that he wore to work for more than three decades.”
“He viewed it as a simple statement, not an affront to rules or department leadership.”
“‘Eighteen people died in the line of duty in that powder-blue shirt while I was with the department,’ Guidry said. ‘I went to each of those funerals. I wore that shirt on a Saturday, on my last day, out of respect for them.’"
“Police brass apparently didn't appreciate the sartorial statement, which took place June 28. Young said the improper uniform complaint originated in the 2nd District. The department's Public Integrity Bureau then opened a formal investigation with about 15 minutes left in Guidry's career.”
The Superintendent refuses to intervene on behalf of the Sergeant …
“New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley said that a 35-year police veteran who was reprimanded for wearing the wrong uniform shirt just 15 minutes before he was set to retire was appropriately punished.”
In my opinion there is nothing worse for morale than a leader who refuses to stand up for his men and do the right thing when faced with meaningless bureaucratic policy.
The Hero … |
The Zero … |
 |
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| Sgt. Bobby Guidry, retiring after 35-years of dedicated and honorable service to the citizens of New Orleans | Superintendent Warren Riley who refused to step in and resolve the matter. |
The New Orleans’ Police Department should honor this officer …
It’s not like the New Orleans’ Police Department doesn’t have a long history of corruption and cowardice … especially in the face of Hurricane Katrina when officers were caught on camera looting stores along with the milling crowds and approximately 200 officers deserted their posts in a stunning display of cowardice.
And last week end NOPD Officer Donyell Sanchell “led the Crescent City Connection police on a high-speed pursuit, then allegedly grazed a bridge officer with his vehicle and slapped him. He was cited with a municipal summons for battery and issued traffic citations.” When asked about this shameful situation, Riley replied, "Was I disappointed? Absolutely," Riley said. "It's embarrassing for the New Orleans Police Department."
Riley is not a stand up guy …
Not only will he apparently not stand up for an honorable officer who has served the citizens well, but he has also been cited by the courts for failure to comply with legal procedures.
“Judge Carl J. Barbier, presiding over the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, grants NRA’s motion for contempt against New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and police chief Warren Riley for ‘failure to provide initial disclosures and to compel answers to discovery’ during NRA’s lawsuit against the City for its illegal gun confiscation of law-abiding citizens following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.” <Source>
And he plans to reinstate the blue shirt next year …
“Riley, in what some in the Police Department call a move to boost morale, recently announced that the department would revert to powder-blue shirts, probably by the first of the year.”
Here is Riley demonstrating he doesn’t know how to handle weapons …
Horseplay with weapons is never acceptable. Was the bozo censured by his boss, the Mayor? – Whoops, that is the Mayor (Ray Nagin) standing next to him.
What can YOU do?
New Orleans’ residents – stick up for honorable officers such as Sergeant Guidry. Let your local elected officials know how you feel. Demand that the final record be expunged and Guidry retires with all rights and privileges. That Guidry wants to join the Reserves after 35-years of front-line experience is a testament to his character.
Mayor's Office number-
504-565-6400
NOPD main number-
504-658-6050
Second District NOPD contacts-
(Where SGT. Guidry worked)
Major Kirk Bouyelas (commander) 504-658-5743
Lt. Ronald Laporte (Assistant Commander)
504-658-6009
Lt. Pau Noel (Assistant Commander) 504-658-6490
City Council contacts
Jackie Clarkson (at-large district) 504-658-1077
Arnie Fielkow (at-large district) 504-658-1068
Shelly Midura (district A) 504-658-1016
Stacy Head (district B) 504-658-1025
James Carter (district C) 504-658-1037
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell (district D) 504-658-1048
Cynthia Williard-Lewis (district E) 504-658-1058\[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected]
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected]
Remember there are any number of honorable police officers and supervisors in the New Orleans’ Police Department. Unfortunately, Superintendent Riley is not one of them.
Do not vote for candidates who have no capacity for real leadership and do not support their people.
-- steve
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