Even as protesters were gathering outside State Police headquarters to call for his removal, it was announced that Col. Kevin Reeves has retired from State Police.
As they have frequently in recent weeks, activitists are protesting today, demanding transparency from State Police in general but in particular regarding the recent death of a man while he was being arrested by a trooper. The trooper later died in a car crash. Here's a story from our media partners at The Advocate about last week's protest. Another is happening today.
The protesters issued the following statement, attributed to Jamal Taylor of The Village 337.
“The Village 337 and the NAACP, in addition to other groups, have engaged in protests that have shed light into the death of Ronald Greene. His death will not be in vain. We demand an investigation into the who, what and when. We demand an arrest of the additional officers involved and a release of the tapes. When we stand, we give permission for other people to stand with us. When we stand today, we believe we move the needle forward towards equity and justice."
In a news release, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the retirement of Reeves from the Louisiana State Police, after 30 years of service.
"Reeves has been planning his retirement since last year and it will be effective on Friday, October 31. A replacement will be named in the coming days," the release states.
“I am deeply grateful to Col. Reeves for his decades of dedicated service as the consummate law enforcement professional committed to serving and protecting the people of Louisiana. Public safety has always been his highest priority,” Gov. Edwards said. “I have appreciated his partnership and counsel for the past several years as Superintendent, especially as Louisiana has navigated cybersecurity incidents, natural disasters, peaceful protests and the COVID pandemic. Throughout his career with Louisiana State Police, from his early time on motorcycle patrols to his promotion to Superintendent, Col. Reeves has been a model of professionalism. His experience made him a steady and strong leader in trying times, and I personally thank him and, on behalf of the state of Louisiana, I wish him and his family well in his much-deserved retirement.”
“It has truly been an honor to serve as Superintendent of the Louisiana State Police and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Public Safety,” Col. Reeves said. “I am forever grateful to Governor Edwards for having the faith and confidence in me and, more importantly, for the support he provides the men and women of the Louisiana State Police. As humbling as this opportunity has been, my greatest professional accomplishment remains the title of Trooper, a title I have the honor of sharing with the over 1,100 men and women who wear our badge. Throughout my career, I have advocated for the men and women of the Louisiana State Police and the heroic work they do each and every day. They will always be family. As I reflect on my career, one thing is for certain, none of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of my family and I look forward to heading back to north Louisiana and spending more time with them.”
Reeves was appointed the 25th Superintendent of the Louisiana State Police in March 2017. Reeves’ career with LSP started in 1990 as a trooper on motorcycle patrols for Troop A in Baton Rouge. His career in the State Police brought him to Troop F in Monroe in 1993, where he served as a squad leader for the mobile field force and as a case agent and undercover agent on many narcotics investigations and operations for the Bureau of Investigations. In 2008, he was promoted to Troop Commander of Troop F before assuming the role of Command Inspector of Patrol Operations and Commander of Statewide Mobile Field Force Team in 2013.
