Leaders hold rally in support of BRPD Chief Murphy Paul
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Leaders held a rally in support of Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul on the morning of Monday, October 2.
The gathering was held at the Baton Rouge Police headquarters in Baton Rouge and included East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, Chief Paul, Mayor Pro Tempore LaMont Cole, Councilman Cleve Dunn Jr., Councilwoman Carolyn Coleman, Councilwoman Chauna Banks, Councilman Darryl Hurst, and multiple others.
Chief Paul has faced calls to resign following an emotional outburst during a Baton Rouge Metro Council meeting. During the meeting, members were discussing the “brave cave” and accusations of abuse at the hands of some officers inside the facility which have been detailed by numerous WAFB I-Team reports.
“I don’t apologize for my passion, but those who are behind the efforts, I ask for you to pray for me,” Chief Paul said during the rally.
Mayor Broome defended the chief for his words.
“What you heard from Chief Paul is we are no longer just satisfied with letting things go by. Sometimes, things just have to be said,” Mayor Broome explained.
Statements have been released specifically by Councilwoman Denise Amoroso, Councilman Aaron Moak, and Councilwoman Jennifer Racca, asking for Chief Paul to step down. During the rally, there were calls for the metro council members to take back their requests for the chief to resign.
The chief has said he has no plan to step down from his position ahead of his retirement this fall, and Mayor Broome has said she has no plans to fire him. In fact, many leaders who spoke during the rally called for the chief to abandon plans to retire altogether and remain in charge of the Baton Rouge Police Department.
“Leave our chief alone,” said Pastor Shelton Dixon of Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church.
“We see you. We see the dedication. We see your work,” added State Representative Vanessa LaFleur of District 101.
Mayor Broome said she also believes Chief Paul has done a good job as head of BRPD.
“One of the best chiefs in the United States, make no mistake about it. As Mayor-President, I have the opportunity to appoint leadership. I say one of my best hires was Murphy Paul,” the mayor said.
Chief Paul said he’s hoping that alleged bad behavior exposed inside the “brave cave” will lead to positive change.
“I believe what we are seeing today is a movement, a movement that is bigger than every single person here,” Chief Paul said.
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