The reappointment of Lake Charles Chief of Police Shawn Caldwell has been deferred until Feb. 19.

Caldwell was appointed as police chief by Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter in 2018. His term expired in January and city council approval is required for Caldwell to begin a second six-year term.

At the Lake Charles City Council meeting on Wednesday, the council opted to wait to approve the reappointment of Caldwell after hearing concerns from state Rep. Wilford Carter Sr.

Concerns

Carter told the council he has received complaints from constituents in this district about Lake Charles Police Department officers’ behavior, stating that while he has received complaints about other law enforcement agencies, he receives the most about LCPD.

“I’d like to talk to them about the perception many people in low-income communities, communities of color, have of the way police officers treat them when they come in contact with them,” Carter told the American Press on Thursday. “Based on the complaints I’ve gotten, I’ve heard about eight people ask to sue the police department for excessive force and false arrest, stuff like that.”

Caldwell said in a media interview after the meeting that “any and all” complaints are investigated, and that LCPD has a professional standards division and an internal affairs department. He also stated that LCPD’s standards are the same standards required to enter the police academy.

Carter also noted his concerns about the amount of diversity in the force at the meeting.

Caldwell said LCPD would “love to hire anyone.”

“We are just like other law enforcement agencies around the country, experiencing a shortage,” he said. “Any qualified people I ask you, please come.”

There is a LCPD recruiting event from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Lake Charles Ward 3 Recreation Center, 3210 Power Center Pkwy.

Council action

Councilmember Ronnie Harvey, District A, and Council President Craig Marks, District F, stated at the meeting they have also heard concerns about LCPD from their constituents.

Harvey said that while he believes Caldwell is “a good guy,” effective leadership is “not always a representation of who your team is.”

“I will say I am very pleased with what Chief Caldwell has done; however, my constituents are not completely pleased,” he explained. “If I’m elected to be up here to be their voice, it would be absurd for me to come up here and say I have no concerns when I know that constituents have called me and voiced their concerns.”

He also noted that Caldwell personally expressed his commitment to meeting with District A to Harvey.

Carter said he attempted to meet with Hunter about the complaints before he knew about the reappointment vote, but since that meeting did not occur he would like one to be conducted before the final reappointment vote.

“I object to taking up the item today, I’m not saying I can’t sit down with the chief and the mayor and address the concerns … we can sit down and talk about the figures and maybe we can try to have some type of effort,” Carter said at the meeting.

Hunter said in response that his office did receive a meeting request with Carter “a couple of months ago,” but the meeting was canceled the day of.

“Whether it’s Representative Carter or any citizen of this city, I’ve never turned down a meeting request.”

Carter told the American Press he decided to wait to meet with Hunter because he felt “disrespected” by the meeting turnaround time.

Hunter affirmed his support for Caldwell at the meeting.

“I think he’s a good man. He’s a godly man. He cares about this city. He cares about the force, and I support LCPD 100 percent,” he said. “They are a good group of men and women, and they are a group of humans who are imperfect, just like everyone in this room is imperfect, and we can all improve.”

The council approved the deferment with a vote of four to three. Councilmembers Mark Eckard, District G; John Ieyoub, District D; and Stuart Weatherford, District E; voted in opposition to the deferment.

Carter told the American Press he does not believe Hunter or the council are “serious” about his concerns.

“They’re brushing me off by giving me a two-week delay.”

City of Lake Charles Public Information Officer Katie Harrington told the American Press on Thursday the involved parties are working to determine the details of the meeting.

Caldwell will remain chief of police until the reappointment is approved or denied.