LAKE ARTHUR — Town police officer John Kurtz was fired Wednesday after Police Chief Ray Marcantel accused him of insubordination, use of bad language and allowing his girlfriend to ride in a police unit.

“Three times I had a discussion with him about his ways, and he did not change,” Marcantel told the town council. “So last time I had the discussion was when he rode his girlfriend around with him in his car.”

After briefly discussing Kurtz’s firing during a public meeting, town attorney Bennett LaPoint urged the council to go into executive session to discuss the firing.

“It is not something that should be discussed in public because the employee has rights,” LaPoint said.

Kurtz wasn’t at the meeting, but had been told the item was to be on the agenda, Marcantel said.

Before going into executive session Alderman Auldon Robinson questioned the firing and lack of documentation supporting it.

“Not to undermine the chief or myself as a councilman, but I have a moral and civic duty to look into the situation whenever someone is terminated,” Robinson said.

After a 10-minute executive session, the council voted to fire Kurtz, with Aldermen Ricky Monceaux, David Hanks, Robert Palermo and Poncho Lejeune voting in favor. Robinson abstained, saying he couldn’t support the move without proper documentation.

Kurtz has been with the Lake Arthur Police Department less than a year.

In other police matters, the council unanimously approved the hiring of Keith Broussard as the new assistant police chief. The town has been without an assistant chief since Terri Guillory left the department.

Broussard, who has worked as a patrolman since September, said he is eager to serve.

“We have a great team, and everyone works together and off of each other,” he said. “It’s definitely not a one-man show.”

Broussard started his law enforcement career with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office in 1988. 

He briefly worked at local plants before returning to police work at the Iota Police Department.

Broussard will continue to live in Iota, where his children attend school.

Robinson encouraged Broussard to get to know the community so residents can become familiar with him.