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T <br /> STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> ",F,,,,,, DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> ,��4 9y: LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> �- <br /> �i,;,�_,,��;;��� P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> rt 14, 1BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> e4. (225)(225)219-5600 <br /> .!+ <br /> FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.state.la.us <br /> August 18, 2014 <br /> Michael Sigur <br /> 2201 Florida Avenue <br /> Kenner, LA 70062 <br /> Re: Ethics Board Docket No. 2014-861 <br /> Dear Mr. Sigur: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its August 15, 2014 meeting, considered your request <br /> for an advisory opinion as to whether you may continue to serve as an unpaid reserve <br /> police officer with the City of Kenner Police Department and work private police details <br /> after being elected to the City of Kenner City Council. You stated that you retired from <br /> the City of Kenner Police Department and are presently a member of their reserve <br /> division. You also stated that as a reserve member, you receive no compensation for your <br /> volunteer services, but you do occasionally work police details for private businesses <br /> which pay you directly. You provided information that the Police Chief for the City of <br /> Kenner Police Department is elected and controls and administers the budget for the City <br /> of Kenner Police Department. Finally, you provided further information that the City of <br /> Kenner City Council has no involvement in the approval of the appointments of reserve <br /> police officers with the City of Kenner Police Department. <br /> The Board concluded, and instructed me to inform you, that the Code of Governmental <br /> Ethics would not prohibit you from continuing to serve as an unpaid reserve officer for <br /> the City of Kenner Police Department and work private police details now that you have <br /> been elected to the City of Kenner City Council. Volunteer police officers are public <br /> employees under La. R.S. 42:1102 (18) even though they are not compensated, as they <br /> are engaged in the performance of a governmental function. La. R.S. 42:1111C(1)(a) <br /> prohibits a public servant from receiving any thing of economic value for any service, the <br /> subject matter of which is devoted substantially to the responsibilities, programs or <br /> operations of the agency of the public servant and in which the public servant has <br /> participated. However, La. R.S. 42:1123(15) provides, an exception tb permit duly <br /> commissioned law enforcement officers to provide private security services, which are <br /> approved by and in accordance with a policy of their public employer. The policy of the <br /> public law enforcement body must be published in the official journal of the parish and <br /> provide for the use of public vehicles for private employment. La. R.S. 42:1113 prohibits <br /> public servants, their immediate family member, or legal entities in which they have a <br /> controlling interest, from entering into any contract, subcontract, or other transaction that <br /> is under the supervision or jurisdiction of the agency of such public servant. Because the <br /> City of Kenner Police Department is a separate agency from the City of Kenner City <br /> Council, your continued service as an unpaid reserve officer for the City of Kenner Police <br /> Department is not prohibited by the Code of Ethics. <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />