Civil Service panel re-instates officer, says her rights ignored

The Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board agrees with its attorney who says Talya Fruge’s rights were not fully protected in a termination action by the City Council.
Consequently, the board Tuesday evening reversed Fruge’s firing and restored her to the job, with all benefits accruring since the mid-May action.
Fruge was suspended after she allegedly failed to assist another officer during an April altercation with a suspect.
She and a second officer at the scene were charged with malfeasance after an investigation requested by Police Chief Ronald Dies.
Those charges are pending in 27th Judicial District Court.
According to Fruge, Dies’ secretary advised her on the afternoon of May 8 that the chief would recommend her termination to the City Council at its May 13 meeting.
Fruge told the board Tuesday night she was not allowed to state her case at the council meeting, nor was she advised of any rights she had regarding counsel or other matters.
Board chairman Fire Capt. Keith Vidrine double checked: “You were not allowed to speak at the council meeting, correct?”
“Correct,” Fruge, 33, responded.
Police Lt. Donnie Thibodeaux said he saw no option for the board. “We have to null and void anything they do if they violate her rights,” he said, moving to do so and getting a unanimous vote from the other members -- Jan Ward, Germaine West and John Guillory.
On another disciplinary matter, board attorney Daniel M. Landry, III of Lafayette advised that he doesn’t think either Dies or the department has legal standing to contest a personnel matter in district court.
Dies suspended Richard Abadie in January. The board reversed in May. Dies appealed to district court in June.
“It appears to me that there must be authority from the Mayor and the Board of Alderman for him (Dies) to assert an appeal of this claim,” Landry, who will defend the board in the action, noted.
Landry’s opinion on both matters, of course, is subject to ultimate determination by a judge.
The Police Department version of palace intrigue didn’t end with the above items.
The board added to its agenda a request from Deputy Chief Varden Guillory for an appeal hearing of “adverse actions without just cause” by Dies against him.
A date for the hearing is not yet set.
Dies and Guillory, paired for sometime like Mutt and Jeff after the city adopted the deputy chief system and junked the assistant chief system, have had a falling out, by all accounts.
An item Tuesday night reiterated that. Dies wants jailers and records officers to report to the chief. As of now, according to the board, they fall under the deputy chief. The City Council would have to amend the deputy chief ordinance to accomplish Dies’ wish.
The board tabled considering an investigation into actions of Dies, when it realized the possibility of going into an executive session on the matter had not been noted on the posted agenda.