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Four troopers arrested in probe of overtime program

Posted at 2:41 PM, Apr 30, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-30 15:41:34-04

Two current and two former State Troopers were arrested today, following an investigation into the Local Agency Compensated Enforcement program. 

Daryl Thomas, a current trooper, was booked with two counts filing false public records and one count felony theft in excess of $15,000. 

Byron Sims, a former Trooper, was booked with four counts filing false public records and one count felony theft in excess of $21,000. 

Jimmy Rogers, a former Trooper, was booked with 74 counts of injuring public records and one count malfeasance in office. 

Wayne Taylor, a current trooper, was booked with 14 counts injuring public records and one count malfeasance in office. 

The arrests followed a six-month investigation into the program, known as LACE. LACE is a program that allows Troopers to conduct enforcement and provide a visible police presence within a specific parish to supplement local, parish, and state law enforcement. Troopers work LACE outside of their regularly scheduled shifts and their overtime is paid for by the parish District Attorney, a release from State Police indicates. 

The investigation began after Louisiana State Police was provided information of alleged wrongdoing involving several Troopers working LACE in the New Orleans area. That triggered a wide-reaching investigation to make sure there were no other problems with the program; the LACE program was then suspended statewide while State Police began a criminal investigation into the allegations and an administrative review of the LACE program’s policies and procedures.

As a result of information learned during the internal review of the LACE program, State Police expanded the criminal investigation into two additional parishes. Thomas and Sims were arrested in East Baton Rouge Parish. Rogers was arrested in Calcasieu Parish. Taylor was arrested in Rapides Parish. 

East Baton Rouge Parish:

Thomas has 23 years with State Police and Taylor has 11 years. Employment status for both Troopers is pending the administrative process.

“This is an extremely disappointing day for our agency; however, we must hold ourselves accountable before we can be expected to hold the public accountable,” said Colonel Kevin Reeves, State Police Superintendent. “These arrests are not indicative of the vast majority of Troopers who serve their communities and perform their jobs well each and every day. The actions of a few should not be a reflection on the agency as a whole. This has been a long and unfortunate journey, but we are prepared to move forward as an agency that expects nothing less than professionalism from its employees and strives to produce the best public safety product to the citizens we serve.”

LACE was reinstated on February 5th with improvements made to the program’s policies and procedures including additional administrative and operational oversight.