LAFAYETTE, La. — Some Lafayette residents and community activists met Wednesday night to demand the city-parish government reinstate the Park Police Department.
About a half-dozen people attended the meeting at the J. Carlton James Center to discuss the issue. They say park police could have stopped the party in Moore Park last week that ended with a deadly shooting.
"We're asking, demanding, that the park police be brought back to Lafayette Parish and the city. That it be put back in the budget and it remains a part of parks and recreation," explained Keith Faulk, President of Concerned Community Activists.
Former Park Police Chief Oscar Benoit says his officers did work after traditional business hours, contrary to what an LCG spokesperson said Tuesday. Benoit tells our media partners at The Advocate that some of his officers worked from 7 a.m. to around 4 p.m., while others worked from 2 p.m. to around 10 p.m.
Benoit also said his officers routinely worked overtime.
The LCG spokesperson told the paper he was "misinformed and erroneously" said Park Police shifts ended at 5 p.m.
The group also demanded no more funding for the Lafayette Police Department until a citizen review board with subpoena power is created.
KATC had a crew at the meeting; you can watch a live stream of the event below:
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