WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |First Black Police Chief in Baton Rouge History
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Mayor Kip Holden has just appointed Sergeant Jeff LeDuff to head the Baton Rouge Police Department. He is the first black Police Chief in Baton Rouge history and has been on the force for 22 years. LeDuff is 48-years-old and was the head instructor for the BRPD Police Academy. He led the self defense courses for women during the height of the search for the serial killer.
LeDuff graduated from the FBI National Academy back in 1994 and was the first Louisiana officer to graduate as Class President. He grew up in the Baton Rouge area and is a graduate of Port Allen High School.
Two other BRPD veterans were named as finalists for the job. Corporal Craig Russell and Retired Captain Ron Stevens. The Mayor and the search committee said all three were top notch candidates. None of them scored in the top three on the test that is used to determine who qualifies for the top job.
The Department has long had a morale problem after a lengthy and difficult search for two serial killers, a battle with former Mayor Bobby Simpson over pay and the sudden resignation of former Chief Pat Englade. 9-News has been told by several officers that his hiring will considerably raise the morale on the force.
Watch 9-News for the latest on this story and what could be big changes for the department.
