LAFAYETTE, La. — A judge in Lafayette issued a temporary restraining order Thursday against the Lafayette Police Department and Interim Police Chief Scott Morgan to halt disciplinary action against the former president of the local police union.
According to court records, 15th Judicial District Judge Thomas Duplantier ordered that Morgan and the LPD cease any disciplinary action including suspension of Cpl. David Stanley, a member of the Police Association of Louisiana – Local #905 who also served as President of the union from June 2019 to July 28.
According to a release from the police union, Stanley is the subject of retaliatory action by LPD for exercising his constitutionally protected rights.
A petition filed in the Lafayette court alleges that Stanley was subjected to discipline in the form of an 80-hour suspension without pay in addition to being transferred out of his K-9 officer role for making two off-duty social media post on a public Facebook page operated by the police union in his capacity as president.
In June, Morgan revealed thatStanley was the subject of an Internal Affairs Division investigation regarding statements he made in opposition to HB 577.
HB 577 allows for local police departments in Broussard, Carencro, Scott and Youngsville to promote vacant positions within their ranks for any reason rather than for those with the most seniority.
The release states that the issue before the court was whether Stanley would suffer immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage before LPD and Morgan could be heard in opposition.
Duplantier set a hearing for the case on Sept. 1.
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