Cleveland Not Mayor

There are citizens in the town of Richwood who believe that the police chief has overstayed his time in office. Johnny Cleveland has been a controversial pick since he became police chief, and his recent alleged actions at a Richwood business have only intensified desires of his removal. Richwood Board Alderwoman Leola Keyes is one of those citizens. In an interview conducted with Keyes, she spoke of public safety, saying that it is "critically important" to every citizen in the town of Richwood. Keyes was also critical of Richwood's mayor, Gerald Brown, who has had several run-ins with members on the board.

"Richwood's mayor and alderpersons have an obligation to commit to the citizens having a substantial measure of safety and police protection in the town." said Keyes. Keyes said that Richwood citizens go to the polls and elect town officials, hoping that they(officials)will keep them safe from being shot and killed, as some homes have been targeted. She spoke of past incidents where homes were shot into and that more thorough investigations need to be done. Keyes mentioned Brown St., where drivers speed on the street shooting at one another as if they are in the wild, wild west.

"This happens late at night because there is never town police presence on duty," said Keyes. As Keyes continued to talk about public safety, she said that "it is the right" of all Richwood residents to feel safe in their homes, but they can't because of the "lack of a competent police department offering 24-hour patrolling".

There is one thing that Richwood citizens can't be accused of, and that is an effort to defund the police. According to Keyes, 80% of property taxes paid to the town are used for police protection. 80% of Richwood residents want to know why so much is spent on inadequate police protection and no police chief. Keyes said that it is the contention of a majority of the board of Aldermen that Johnny Cleveland is not the police chief, because he was not confirmed by the board, a necessity under the Lawrason Act. Municipalities such as Richwood are governed by the Act, which states that the mayor appoints the individual before the board of whomever he wants as the new police chief, and the board has to confirm (majority vote). Keyes offers that it never happened. Minutes from a town hall meeting indicate that three of the five alderpersons voted to deny Brown's appointment of Cleveland as police chief, but Cleveland had been acting with full powers as the police chief since that vote. Cleveland still has unfinished legal matters that need to be resolved stemming from an alleged domestic abuse incident in Delhi, LA, Cleveland's hometown. Cleveland allegedly is restricted to desk duty pending the outcome of his arrest, and that has many citizens angry because Cleveland lives forty miles away and takes a Richwood police unit home every night. Residents are upset with Mayor Brown because many see that as a "perk" extended to Cleveland because past police chiefs used their personal vehicles to come to work and only use police units on official duty. When Cleveland was arrested, he allegedly was in a Richwood police unit at the scene. At the same time, it is also alleged that the unit has been around the area in places other than Richwood when Cleveland is assumed off duty.

The board received an opinion from Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, stating that Cleveland can be prevented from taking a police unit when off duty. An ordinance passed by the board to stop Cleveland was vetoed by Brown. Citizens also want to know why Mayor Brown seems to be more interested in broadband service than using newly provided money from the Biden Administration for much-needed infrastructure work in the town. The town received $1.2 million under the American Rescue Act that citizens believe should be used for sewer and road projects. Keyes feels that money could be used to put in place a competent police department because police protection for the town ends at the close of the business day. Keyes said the town wouldn't have to spend money to pay a local towing company hundreds of dollars to tow a police unit( as in the Cleveland incident) from Delhi back to Richwood. Keyes said that Cleveland's actions are an embarrassment to the town and are unacceptable to the citizens. Further actions can be seen as a liability, especially if Cleveland is not the police chief according to the Lawrason Act.