The New Iberia City Council made the correct decision last week in unanimously rejecting Resolution No. 26-46, an attempt to formally invoke an exception that would have continued denying police officers representation on the Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board.
This was not a minor procedural vote.
It was a pivotal moment in correcting a longstanding deviation from Louisiana law. For context, the City had previously operated under a claimed exemption from the statutory requirement that both fire and police departments be represented on the civil service board. That exemption traces back to 2014, when the New Iberia Police Department was disbanded. At that time, the absence of a functioning police department created a narrow and temporary issue regarding board composition.
However, that factual and legal landscape changed in 2017 when the NIPD was reconstituted. From that point forward, the basis for any exception ceased to exist.
Despite this, the City never formally restored the board to its lawful structure, nor did it ever adopt the resolution required to invoke the exception in the first place. Instead, Resolution 26-46 sought to retroactively justify years of operating outside the statutory framework.
“This is not a routine administrative matter. It is an attempt to apply a statutory exception that, based on both the law and the historical record, is neither currently applicable nor ever lawfully adopted.”
The Law Has Been Clear All Along
This issue is not ambiguous, nor is it new. As far back as 2013, the Louisiana Attorney General addressed this exact situation involving the City of New Iberia. The opinion made clear that even if a police department is eliminated, the statutory framework governing civil service boards does not change. The position designated for a police representative must still exist, if necessary, as a vacant seat, unless and until the Legislature provides a different structure.
That guidance left no room for interpretation: the City was required to continue complying with Louisiana’s civil service laws, including the requirement of police representation.
Once the police department was reestablished in 2017, the path forward was even clearer. The seat was no longer theoretical. It needed to be filled.
Leadership Recognized the Reality
Mayor Freddie DeCourt’s position during the meeting reflected both practical governance and legal reality. In urging the Council to reject the resolution, he acknowledged that the police department has now demonstrated its viability and that representation is not only appropriate, but necessary.
His statement underscores a key point: this is not about creating a new right. It is about restoring one that already exists under Louisiana law.
Why Police Representation Matters
Having represented law enforcement officers for over two decades, I can say without hesitation that the presence of a police officer on a civil service board is not symbolic. It is essential.
Civil service boards routinely make decisions involving discipline, promotions, and departmental policy. A police representative brings firsthand knowledge of procedures, standards, and operational realities that other board members may not possess. That insight strengthens the decision-making process, ensures fairness, and upholds the integrity of the system.
This is precisely why Louisiana law requires that representation.
What Happens Next
With the rejection of Resolution 26-46, the City now has the opportunity, and the obligation, to bring its civil service board into full compliance with the law.
That means conducting an election for a police department representative; appointing that representative in accordance with statutory requirements; and ensuring that the board reflects the balanced structure mandated by Louisiana law.
A Step Toward Accountability
The Council’s unanimous vote was more than a rejection of a flawed resolution. It was a step toward restoring accountability and adherence to the rule of law.
For years, the absence of police representation raised serious legal and structural concerns. This decision signals a willingness to correct course.
Now, the focus must shift from justification to compliance.
The law has always required a seat at the table for police officers in New Iberia. It is time that seat is finally filled.