August 13, 2012

Lafayette Fire and Police Civil Service Board

Petitioner: Kane Marceaux

900 East University, Lafayette, Louisiana 70503

Cpl/Agent, Criminal Investigation Division/ Metro Narcotics

Petitioner is filing a formal complaint on Chief Jim Craft, Major Randy

Vincent, Lt. Dwayne Prejean, and Sgt. Mark Francis.

On April 18, 2012, I Cpl Kane Marceaux appeared before this board and

requested that the board investigate Major Jackie Alfed for a transfer

that was conducted in violation of Lafayette City Police General Orders

(the board is granted this authority under L.A.R.S 33:2477 section 4

paragraph 4). I advised the board that I did not feel that I would obtain

a fair and unbiased investigation. This statement offended Chief Jim

Craft, who stated that he challenged any employee of the Lafayette City

Police to produce any information which would have indicated that

Chief Craft or the internal affairs unit swept any internal investigation

under the rug. The board refused to take my complaint, and deferred

the investigation back to the Lafayette City Police Department.

Weeks following the initial complaint I filed, I was advised by email

from Chief Jim Craft that he had violated the general order pertaining

to my transfer. Chief Craft advised in writing that he would have Lt.

Dwayne Prejean of the LPD Internal Affairs Unit issue Chief Jim Craft a

letter of caution for not following the order. I have never obtained in

writing the outcome of the investigation from Lt. Prejean, other than

Chief Craft’s own statement. The following is an email I received from

Chief Craft in regards to the complaint that I initially filed on April 18,

2012,

“From: Jim Craft

Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 5:05 PM

To: Kane Marceaux

Cc: Ted Vincent; Jackie Alfred

Subject: Meeting Follow-up

Regarding our meeting, the following actions have been taken:

1. There does appear to be a violation of General Order 101.2 as it pertains

to putting your temporary light duty assignment in writing. Quite frankly, I

do not see what difference this makes since both positions fall under the CID

umbrella and you were informed of your assignment. In any event, it is a

violation by me, and I have instructed Internal Affairs to prepare a

performance inspection report on myself for not following the General

Order. If you feel this violation is more severe, I will have to consult with the

CAO to determine what level of discipline (if any) is warranted. If you still

want the assignment in writing, please notify me.

I have not been able to find a violation of 201.2”.

It was obvious to me from Chief Craft’s email, that Chief Craft has little

regard for the GENERAL ORDERS that govern the Lafayette City Police

Department. I consider the email he sent me to be quite

condescending. I was under the impression that the only person who

could issue discipline to Chief Craft would be the CAO Dee Stanley.

Following the public comment made by Chief Craft on April 18, 2012

(investigations Swept under the Rug), the following information is what

I discovered as a 15 year veteran with the Lafayette City Police

Department and not as a PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR. Here are only three

examples which are listed as follows:

1. Captain Angelo Iorio Investigation- former Captain Iorio was

acused of compromising the identity of a narcotics confidential

informant to an alleged drug dealer. Former Captain Iorio also

provided the same alleged drug dealer with knowledge of a

pending drug investigation which allowed the suspect to thwart

the actions of L.M.N.T.F. These actions were confirmed during a

recent Lafayette Police Union meeting in which the investigator

assigned to the case admitted the allegations were sustained and

Iorio was suspended. The allegations complained of were of a

criminal nature, yet no charges or criminal investigation was ever

ordered. Witnesses, Cpl. Scott Poiencott, Cpl. Robinson Olivero,

Sgt Blair Dore , Captain John Babin, Cpl. Cory Clause, Cpl. U.J.

Prevost, Sgt. Guy Lebreton and Captain Ted Vincent.

2. Major Glenn Dartez Investigation, witnesses Sgt. David Leblanc,

Sgt Lance Leblanc, Major Randy Vincent, Captain Mac Gallien, Lt.

Greg Cormier and Sgt Mark Francis.(Reference is made to KLFY

Website see attached public article. In short Sgt. Francis explains

a cover up. My question, If Chief craft did not know of the

Major’s involvement of being on the scene of a MURDER, then

Major Randy Vincent who was a Captain of CID at the time should

have been terminated. If the Chief did know that Major Dartez

was on the scene of a HOMOCIDE, homicide then he Chief Craft

participated in the cover-up. What discipline did Chief Craft

receive? If Sgt. Francis was lying, then he should be terminated

for making false statements to the public. What is the truth?

3. Jeremy Dupius. A conspiracy to cover up a DWI. Paticipants, Lt,

Chris Lange, Major Randy Vincent and Chief Jim Craft. In addition,

Lt. Dwayne Prejean, admitted that they should not discipline the

officers who were less than truthful soley because they were on

the SWAT TEAM which may hurt their credibility. Chief Craft

stated on April 18, 2012, that the Internal Affairs Unit is the

epitome of integrity (Note Webster’s definition of integrity

1. The state or quality of being entire or complete; wholeness; entireness; unbroken state; as, the integrity of an empire or territory.

2. Moral soundness; honesty; freedom from corrupting influence or motive; - used especially with reference to the fulfillment of contracts, the discharge of agencies, trusts, and the like; uprightness; rectitude).

Reference is made to an audio file which was made public on the

website BUSTED IN ACADIANA which discusses the Dupuis

investigation. I suggest the board members listen to the audio file

discussing the incident which is now public.

Based on the above information I am requesting that the Civil Service

Board re-open these investigations and the current operational

methods of the Lafayette Police Department Internal Affairs Unit. The

board has the power to do so, and the information I have provided to

the board is based on factual information, not water cooler chit chat.

The following General Order’s apply:

201.2 Professional Conduct and Responsibilities

Attention to Duty

F.Employees shall not knowingly make false or untrue statements

whether written or verbal.

L.Employees shall not communicate in any manner, directly or

indirectly, any information that may delay the arrest or enable persons

guilty of criminal acts to escape arrest or punishment.

Reporting Supervisor

B.Employees shall immediately report to their supervisor knowledge of

any unusual activity, situations, or issues which involve the duty of the

department to uphold the law, keep the peace, or to protect live and

property.

C.Employees shall immediately notify their supervisor of any violation

of any Federal, State, or Local ordinance alleged or known to have been

committed by another employee.

ATTACHED PUBLIC NEWS ARTICLES: KLFY

http://www.klfy.com/story/18597674/lafayette-pd-facing

The conversation involves two officers in the suit and Mark Francis who once served as public information officer.

The officer's attorneys says it contains evidence the Lafayette police department tried to cover up an internal affairs investigation involving former Major Glen Dartez.

It was recorded March 9 of this year.

Francis recounts a conversation he said he had with Chief Jim Craft about the investigation.

"I said you told me earlier on you didn't know, nobody told you. So is it not true, or you weren't told. I said man that's the stuff I have to answer," says Francis.

The suit says Craft claimed to be unaware that major Dartez was near the scene of a murder and failed to help.

"At that level. A case of that magnitude. You don't notify the number one guy in this organization. That's a problem," expresses Francis.

The document claims that a detective working the case notified his superiors, and Francis knew that.

But Craft still claimed no knowledge. Over time Dartez's involvement discovered by the media.

"This is growing, it's growing daily. We got to do something. I said Glen needs to be put on administrative leave," says Francis.

The suit further alleges Dartez was not put on leave so he could make retirement.

"I told him that. He didn't have a response to that? No that dude got red man," Francis referring to Craft.

Francis also goes on to say Craft is not a big fan of the truth.

"I tell him the truth. He gets pissed off and mad if you tell him the truth. Yea, he got upset, he stopped talking to me," says Francis.

We want to reiterate the fact that Francis is not a defendant in this case.

But this conversation will be submitted as evidence by the officers attorneys.

We also reached out to chief Craft for comment, but he did not return our call.

The INDEPENDENT SEPTEMBER 1, 2010

http://www.theind.com/cover-story/6848-internal-affair

[UPDATE: After this story went to press, the Lafayette Police

Department announced that Maj. Glen Dartez had been placed on

administrative leave, the action coming 2.5 months after local police

learned he had been at the alleged murder scene. Monday afternoon

Police Chief Jim Craft told the paper that Louisiana State Police were

not involved in the investigation of Dartez but Tuesday night

confirmed State Police had been called in and that sufficient evidence

exists to turn the matter over to DA Mike Harson for potential

criminal prosecution. Numerous questions remain about the

department's handling of the investigation into one of its own, and

Dartez is still expected to announce his retirement shortly, according

to our sources.]

The INDEPENDENT October 28, 2010.

http://www.theind.com/news/7193-harson-no-charges-against-dartez

A Lafayette PD Internal Affairs investigation — not launched by Police

Chief Jim Craft until two months later, Aug. 11 — led to a subsequent

investigation by Louisiana State Police on Aug. 31. At that time, the case

was also handed over to Harson for potential criminal prosecution.

Respectfully,

Kane M. Marceaux