Running From The Truth

We are told that a law enforcement officer can lie to you in order for you to admit to a wrongdoing. Yes, the courts allows that. And it is not uncommon for officers to lie just like anyone else if they don’t want to admit the truth. But somehow, when it comes to getting the truth from law enforcement officers, numerous roadblocks materialize to prevent the truth from being known. On the other hand, law enforcement will ask the public to come forward and be a witness in order to solve a crime. “Help us” to fight crime we are told. But when a law enforcement officer is involved in a possible crime and that witness might be a law enforcement officer, somehow the truth is allegedly kept hidden. The Louisiana State Police is having a horrendous time trying to convince a sizeable portion of the public that it was being “honest and truthful” in telling the public exactly what to unarmed Black motorist when he died at the hands of LSP Troopers way back in 2019. No matter what the public is told from LSP viewpoint, a little more information of what really happens makes it way to the surface of accountability, sending LSP into another mode of damage control. But despite of all of the pushbacks/setbacks, the truth keeps marching on. The was made apparent when revelations surfaced recently that La. Gov. John Bel Edwards was made aware of what happened to Greene hours after his death, but the governor has now is defending himself of being in a cover-up or not opening an investigation soon enough. If that wasn’t bad enough for the governor and LSP, the public has learned that LSP Supt. Lamar Davis has fired former Trooper Carl Cavalier for “telling the truth” about how LSP allegedly covered up details about how Greene died. In his dismissal letter by Davis, Cavalier was accused of for “disloyalty, seeking publicity” and “other infractions” related to statements concerning Ronald Greene’s case. Though the public will be told that Cavalier “violated” department policy, in the eyes of the public and many officers, is that violated “the blue wall” of silence. If anyone has watched tv shows and movies about corruption in the police department, where if an officers knows/has information that can incriminate a fellow officer, he/she keeps quiet, not saying anything(silent) to protect their comrade in blue. But, we are told that when an officer takes his/her oath, their loyalty first is to the LAW, not the individual. When anyone of us takes an oath(I did as a postal employee), it is to our profession and to the public, not an individual. It would appear that Cavalier saw more than he needed and knew “something” was wrong. It should be noted that Cavalier said that he had been outspoken concerning LSP long before Greene’s death, but LSP allegedly let workplace issues continue. In a section of Cavalier’s dismissal letter, Davis said that Cavalier’s “conduct had brought discredit unto himself” and “ destroyed public respect for State Police Officers”. How can a person “discredit” oneself for telling the truth? Isn’t getting to the truth the main tenet of acquiring justice for all? God bless those who believe that the truth conquers all. How can one expect public confidence in those who wear the badge that sits in the higher echelons of law enforcement to be on their side when one man’s death “will not” away? It is like when God asked Cain about Abel. Abel’s blood cried from the ground, as the same can be said not only about Ronald Greene, but countless other Black people who has died from the hands of law enforcement officers. Interestingly, Supt. Davis said that he is he is not one who “believes in covering up, and that blue wall of silence”. Is that an acknowledgment that Davis is very well aware that it exists? Does that mean in Davis’ opinion that it shouldn’t exist? As Supt. of LSP and can only be removed by Gov. Edwards, does Davis wants to see that wall dismantled? As the head of LSP, Davis can implement policies that can “chip away”, as any police chief should be able to do, the blue wall of silence. Firing an officer who tells the truth is never the solution to the problem of lying. Ronald Greene should not be dead. Gov. Edwards and Supt. Davis both know this. They also know that Greene’s investigation was never handled properly, that even changing leadership(Davis taking over for Kevin Reeves), meant that the new guy had to make his predecessor not take the fall. We haven’t heard from Reeves since he left LSP. He retired with honors. Another trooper is fired because he choose “truth over honor”, because just as Pilate said, that he wouldn’t be guilty(blue wall) of an innocent man. Carl Cavalier with his experience as an LSP Trooper, knows firsthand of what transpires at LSP, (despite new policies by Davis), as he said that he is “on the outside, looking in and it is appalling” to him. He may have lost his job for the time being(lawsuits filed), but at least he knows that he has the truth on his side.