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Committee rejects bill giving Central police chief unilateral firing power after due-process concerns

House Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs Committee · April 15, 2026

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Summary

The committee voted down HB 257, which would have allowed the elected Central police chief to hire and fire without council approval (with a required consultation with the city attorney); supporters cited common practice in other Larsson-Act towns while several members said the change would weaken employee due process and concentrate too much authority in one elected official.

Representative Ventrella presented HB 257 to transfer hiring and firing authority for the City of Central’s police department from the local council to the elected police chief. The bill’s text included an amendment requiring the chief to consult the city attorney before taking disciplinary action.

Chief Roger Corcoran, who identified himself as Central’s chief of police, and Fabian Blasch of the Louisiana Chiefs Association testified in favor, saying the change would make operations more efficient and align Central with many other municipalities whose chiefs have autonomy. Blasch pointed to statewide practice where elected chiefs or sheriffs exercise hiring and firing discretion.

Opponents on the committee raised repeated concerns about due process and checks and balances. Several members asked why an employee facing termination would not have the option to appeal to the local council before suing in court. Representative Jackson, Representative Knox and others said forcing an immediate lawsuit to challenge a termination makes recourse much more expensive and onerous for rank-and-file employees.

Representative Sawyer moved to report HB 257 favorably as amended, but on roll call the motion failed 7 yeas to 8 nays. The committee’s defeat of the motion means HB 257 will not be reported out favorably from this committee at this time.

Lawmakers who opposed the measure said they were not arguing the chief should have no tools to address misconduct but wanted clearer local due-process avenues and safeguards; sponsors said the city council had requested the carve-out and that statutory protections such as the officers’ bill of rights remain in place.