PONCHATOULA, La. — The entire day shift of the Ponchatoula Police officers did not report to work Friday, leaving the law enforcement in the city to some reserve officers and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Police Chief Bry Layrisson made a social post about the officers’ absence and said he believes it is over pay issues.
“Our officers are disappointed in city hall because they are underpaid,” he said in a post on his Facebook page. “They make far less than other city employees and they are fed up with the mayor ignoring the city’s consultant’s compensation plan.”
Layrisson said a normal day shift starts at 6 a.m. and includes four patrol officers, a communications officer, four administrative employees, two to three detectives, two narcotics officers and a school resource officer.
He said no one on the police department received a raise in 2023.
“Right now, all of our officers are being paid at the same level,” Layrisson explained. “That means if you’ve been here 25 years, you’re at level one. I have 25-year lieutenants making the same as five-year lieutenants.”
Layrisson said he isn’t certain what will happen when the night shift of officers is scheduled to report at 6 p.m., but he thanked Hammond Police and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office for their help.
“I will continue working with my reserves and other departments to keep Ponchatoula safe,” he said.
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