| Advisory opinion regarding whether the Code of Governmental Ethics prohibits the continued employment of the son-in-law of the Slidell City Police Chief and request to approve a Disqualification plan. |
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Tommy Williams was recently elected as Slidell's Chief of Police. His four year term began on July 1, 2026. Pursuant to the City's Home Rule Charter, Chief Williams has the sole authority to hire, fire, assign, suspend, and discipline all employees in the Slidell Police Department.
Kelby Wuertz is a son-in-law to Chief Williams. Mr. Wuertz is a POST-certified law enforcement officer who has been continuously employed by the City as a member of its police department since February 7, 2022.
The Slidell Police Department submits the following Disqualification Plan pursuant to La. R.S. 42:1112B:
Any departmental decision specific to Mr. Wuertz (e.g., firing, disciplining, promoting, individualized raise) would be made by the Slidell Police Department's Chief Administrative Officer or Assistant Chief - the de facto "second in command" within the department - without any recommendation or input from Chief Williams. However, Chief Williams may participate in decisions generally applicable to departmental members or to a recognized subgroup of departmental members that includes Mr. Wuertz.
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La. R.S. 42:1119A No member of the immediate family of an agency head shall be employed in his agency.
La. R.S. 42:1119C(2) The provisions of this Section shall not prohibit the continued employment of any public employee nor shall it be construed to hinder, alter, or in any way affect normal promotional advancements for such public employee where a member of public employees' immediate family becomes the agency head of such public employee's agency, provided that such public employee has been employed in the agency for a period of at least one year prior to the member of the public employee's immediate family becoming the agency head.
La. R.S. 42:1112B(1) No public servant shall participate in a transaction involving the governmental entity in which, to his actual knowledge, any member of his immediate family has a substantial economic interest.
La. R.S. 42:1112C allows a disqualification plan to be developed in accordance with rules adopted by the Board to remove a public servant from participating in transactions that would otherwise present violations of Section 1112 of the Code.
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Adopt proposed advisory opinion and approve proposed disqualification plan.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Kelsey Simmons |
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