New Lafayette Police Chief Could See Major Increase in Pay

Lafayette City Council members will decide soon on an item that would approve raising the pay for Lafayette's Police Chief position by $35,000. The pay increase was suggested by Lafayette City Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux.

The suggestion of a pay raise came after only five candidates applied for the job of chief. The pay would go from $135,000 to $170,000.

Back in May, Lafayette Mayor-President Monique Boulet opened up a nationwide search for a new police chief after Chief Judith Estorage stepped down from the post.

Boulet named Paul Trouard as interim chief, and he has also applied for the job permanently. The four other candidates who applied for the job by the deadline of August 9 are as follows:

• Lafayette Police Sergeant Dorian R. Brabham has been with the department for more than 20 years
• Former Houma Police Chief Dana T. Coleman who is a current special agent with the Louisiana Attorney General's Bureau of Investigation
• Herbert Dobler a former attorney with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office, also has prior law enforcement experience
• LeJon M. Roberts is currently working at the New Orleans Police Department as a captain and commander

When KLFY spoke with Boudreaux he pointed out that other police departments are paying their chiefs more than Lafayette. Boudreaux says there are indications that salary was likely one of the reasons that Lafayette's search only attracted five candidates.

• Lafayette has 121,000 people and the salary is $135,000.
• Baton Rouge has 217,000 people and the salary is $165,000.
• Lake Charles has 77,000 people and the salary is $133,000.
• Shreveport has 175,000 people and the salary is $230,000.

In addition to a higher salary, there is an ongoing discussion to reopen the application process.