Nedie interim chief; 4 seek job

With Police Chief Calder Hebert sidelined following a weekend accident, the City Council here appointed Deputy Chief Joe Nedie to take over the department until a permanent replacement for Hebert is named.
Hebert, who had told Mayor Thomas Nelson last week that he was ready to step down, suffered torn ligaments in both legs during a fall over the weekend and is recovering following surgery.
The chief had told the mayor and council last October that he planned to resign to pursue opportunities in the private sector.
An attempt to hire St. Martinville native Todd D’Albor, who left the local department for the chief’s job in Jennings six years ago, fell through when officials realized that the action would violate local Civil Service rules since D’Albor was not on a list of qualified applicants.
The list of applicants, who have all passed the written test for chief, includes Sgt. Lance Laviolette, a local department veteran, and Lt. Terrence Moore with the Franklin Police Dept., along with another Franklin police officer and one from Lake Charles.
Laviolette and Moore were both at Monday’s council meeting and spoke briefly.
Laviolette has served in the SMPD for 17 years and had previously worked with the St. Martin Sheriff’s Office.
Moore has been with the Franklin department for nine years and had previously been a reserve officer here and a member of the Jeanerette Police Dept.
Mayor Nelson said Nedie can only serve as “substitute” chief for 30 days. If the council needs more time to find a permanent replacement, he could be upgraded to “interim” chief.
Chief Hebert has not yet tendered a written resignation setting the exact date of his departure and the council did not set a date to begin interviewing the applicants up to replace him.