Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie has released a statement after handing in his resignation letter to East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome.
I notified Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome of my intent to retire from the Baton Rouge Police Department. I will begin to use some accrued leave and retire on October 2, 2017.
Serving as Baton Rouge Police Chief has been the honor of my lifetime and the decision to retire did not come easily. I will leave behind a department I have been honored to serve for more than 30 years, and which my father proudly served before me.
I leave behind a very special family of law enforcement officers who risk their lives every day to keep our city safe. I want them to know, above all else, it has been my honor to serve as their Chief and I am extremely proud of the work they do. I trained most of them, I know their courage and their hearts, and I owe each of them my deepest gratitude for their service.
My heartfelt thanks go to the people of Baton Rouge for their tremendous support, especially throughout the worst year we have experienced during my time as chief. When officers made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives in the line of duty, the people of our city, parish and state stood with us as they always do. That bond will not be broken, even though some may try.
I want to express my appreciation to the members of the Metro Council who have supported both our men and women in uniform and me personally, working with us to maintain professional police standards. To my fellow law enforcement agencies, District Attorney Hillar Moore, Sheriff Gautreaux, Col Kevin Reeves, Col Mike Edmondson, I am grateful for your cooperation and the strong, effective working relationship we have built together.
I also want to extend my personal thanks to former Mayor-President Kip Holden for his confidence in me and for the opportunity to lead one of the most prestigious police departments in the country.
Unfortunately, I am in a situation that will not serve our police department or the citizens of Baton Rouge.
My hope is that the men and women of the Baton Rouge Police Department will be allowed to perform their jobs according to state law, without prejudice, and that politics will not prevail over public safety.
May God bless the men and women of the Baton Rouge Police Department.
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