There’s a new Marshal in town for the City of Lafayette.
C. Michael Hill took his oath of office Tuesday morning. This swearing-in comes after Brian Pope was found guilty of one count of perjury and three counts malfeasance and suspended from office.
“The deputy marshals and staff have been working under incredible pressure that few of us recognize over the past several months. They have continued to operate this office in a highly professional manner serving this community awfully well,” says Hill, who plans to take on any of the stress that remains after Brian Pope’s trial.
“I want to let them go about their jobs and not have to worry about anything else. If somebody has to worry, it’s going to be me,” says Hill.
The lawyer of forty plus years says it’s an earlier piece of his career history that makes him ready for the job. In the 1970s, hill spent a few years as a street police officer in Baton Rouge
“When you’ve been a police officer it never quite gets out of your blood, so the opportunity now to return to that is a fitting place for my career to come to a close,” says Hill.
Whether it is just for one day or for a thousand, the call to be interim marshal is one Hill is glad to take on.
“When judges of the court call lawyers and ask them to see if they can help out, lawyers should do that unless they cant and I was fortunate that I was able to and I was happy to say yes and happy to bring what I can to the office and to this court,” says Hill.
