Former Arcadia Assistant Chief Arrested- AGAIN- for Domestic Violence

Former Arcadia assistant chief arrested again

Shreveport Times, LA - Feb 22, 2009
By Vickie Welborn • http://us.mc903.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=vwelborn@gannett.com • February 22, 2009 9:46 pm

DIA – Arcadia’s former assistant police chief Andre Rogers is in jail again.Rogers was arrested late Saturday night on a charge of domestic abuse battery after he hit and attempted to strangle his estranged wife, Bienville Parish Sheriff John Ballance said.The arrest is Rogers’ second in three months for a similar offense. In late November, Rogers was arrested by Arcadia police on a charge of simple battery after he pulled his estranged wife out of her vehicle and hit her.Rogers, a 12-year member of the force, spent a night in jail but two days later went to Town Hall, admitted his guilt and paid a $500 fine.In early December, the Arcadia Town Council approved Police Chief Victor Rogers’ recommendations that Andre Rogers be demoted to the rank of officer, take a cut in pay and attend anger management courses. His suspension extended through Dec. 31.Saturday night, a call was made to the Bienville sheriff’s dispatcher saying an officer was needed at Andre Rogers’ residence “right now,” Ballance said. A city police officer was dispatched and arrived within four minutes. The officer called the sheriff’s office for assistance.The victim told authorities that Andrew Rogers hit her in the chest and later attempted to strangler her. As officers took her statement, the woman’s 3-year-old child also demonstrated what happened, Ballance said.Andre Rogers, who had left his residence after the altercation with the woman, returned to the scene and was arrested. He was booked into the Bienville Parish Jail on a charge of domestic abuse battery. He remains there until a 72-hour hearing is held.

http://shreveporttimes.com/article/20090222/NEWS01/90222010

Arcadia police officer remains in jail on domestic abuse charge
Shreveport Times, LA By Vickie Welborn http://us.mc903.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=vwelborn@gannett.com February 23, 2009 6:28 pm

ARCADIA — Arcadia Police Chief Victor Rogers has suspended one of his officers for the second time in less than three months.AdvertisementAnd he says he’ll take no further action against patrolman Andre Roger, whom he previously demoted from assistant police chief, until he has an opportunity to talk with him.Andre Rogers, whom the police chief says is no relation to him, sits in a jail cell charged with hitting and attempting to strangle his ex-wife over the weekend. No bond has been set.The police chief said he hopes Andre Rogers will resign. If not, a recommendation for disciplinary action, which could include termination, will be made to the Arcadia Town Council. No meeting has been set.“I want to talk to him first and see what the situation is,” Victor Rogers said when asked why he has not dismissed the officer who twice has been arrested on the same offense in a short span of time.Additionally, court records indicate Andre Rogers’ problems with his ex-wife did not start last year. In 2004, she was granted a temporary restraining order against him. The couple divorced in May 2004.Andre Rogers was jailed Saturday night on a charge of domestic abuse battery after the altercation with his ex-wife, Bienville Sheriff John Ballance said.Deputies made the arrest after an Arcadia police officer who was dispatched to Andre Rogers’ house after a call was made to the sheriff’s office’s dispatching center for assistance saw that one of the town’s officers was involved.That wasn’t the case Nov. 29, when Andre Rogers was arrested by Arcadia police on a lesser charge of simple battery for pulling his ex-wife out of her car and hitting her.Two days later, Andre Rogers went to Arcadia Town Hall, admitted his guilt and paid a $500 fine. The police chief said Andre Rogers did not get preferential treatment. Fines are preset for misdemeanor offenses and Andre Rogers was allowed to handle his case that way, Victor Rogers said in December.This time, Andre Rogers’ case will be prosecuted through Bienville District Court, Ballance said.As a result of the first arrest, three council members, acting upon the police chief’s recommendations, demoted Andre Rogers to patrolman from his supervisory role as assistant police chief in December. His mother, Maggie Roberson, is a council member but she did not participate in the discussion involving her son.In addition, Andre Rogers’ pay was reduced and he was ordered to attend anger management classes. Andre Rogers’ was suspended with pay through Dec. 31.Andre Rogers attended two anger management classes, the police chief said today. Andre Rogers provided a letter verifying his attendance “and the council released him to go back to work,” Victor Rogers added.As elected police chief, Victor Rogers has control over recommendations for hiring and firing of his police officers. He has suspended Andre Rogers with pay because it takes the council to make the suspension without pay, Victor Rogers said.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20090223/NEWS03/90223030

Sheriff: No preferential treatment for arrested police officer
KTBS Created: February 22, 2009
Updated: February 23, 2009

An Arcadia police officer who has been arrested for domestic violence for the second time in less than three months will be prosecuted by the district attorney as authorities move to prevent the sweetheart deal he got on city charges the first time.Andre Rogers was arrested by Bienville Parish sheriff's deputies over the weekend on charges he choked his wife in front of their 3-year-old child.An Arcadia police officer called to Rogers' house Saturday night to investigate a family fight notified sheriff's deputies when he saw who the suspect was, Bienville Sheriff John Ballance said. Deputies arrested Rogers when he returned to his home and booked him into the Bienville Parish Jail.Ballance said bond for Rogers had not been set early this afternoon.Rogers was arrested last November on simple battery charges that alleged he hit his wife. He settled the matter quickly in Arcadia town court -- paying a fine the morning of the first business day after his arrest -- and was eventually allowed to return to work.At the time, Rogers was the assistant police chief. He was demoted to patrolman and suspended through the end of the year. The new charges will be prosecuted in Bienville District Court and will be handled by the district attorney's office, Ballance said.Ballance said the couple is divorced but are living together.Arcadia Police Chief Victor Rogers did not return a call for comment today.Jones said after the earlier arrest that his assistant chief did not get preferential treatment by settling the case quickly. There are provisions in the way city court operates that would allow people charged with certain offenses to go ahead and pay their fines, he said.
http://www.ktbs.com/news/Sheriff-No-preferential-treatment-for-arrested-police-officer-26348/

Arcadia police officer remains in jail on domestic abuse charge
Shreveport Times
By Vickie Welborn
http://us.mc903.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=vwelborn@gannett.com
February 24, 2009 2:00 am

ARCADIA — Arcadia Police Chief Victor Rogers has suspended one of his officers for the second time in less than three months.And he says he'll take no further action against Patrolman Andre Roger, whom he previously demoted from assistant police chief, until he has an opportunity to talk with him.Andre Rogers, whom the police chief says is no relation to him, sits in a jail cell charged with hitting and attempting to strangle his ex-wife over the weekend. No bond has been set.The police chief said he hopes Andre Rogers will resign. If not, a recommendation for disciplinary action, which could include termination, will be made to the Arcadia Town Council. No meeting has been set."I want to talk to him first and see what the situation is," Victor Rogers said when asked why he has not dismissed the officer who twice has been arrested on the same offense in a short span of time.Additionally, court records indicate Andre Rogers' problems with his ex-wife did not start last year. In 2004, she was granted a temporary restraining order against him. The couple divorced in May 2004.Andre Rogers was jailed Saturday night on a charge of domestic abuse battery after the altercation with his ex-wife, Bienville Sheriff John Ballance said.Deputies made the arrest after an Arcadia police officer, who was dispatched to Andre Rogers' house after a call was made to the sheriff's office's dispatching center for assistance, saw that one of the town's officers was involved.That wasn't the case Nov. 29, when Andre Rogers was arrested by Arcadia police on a lesser charge of simple battery for pulling his ex-wife out of her car and hitting her.Two days later, Andre Rogers went to Arcadia Town Hall, admitted his guilt and paid a $500 fine. The police chief said Andre Rogers did not get preferential treatment. Fines are preset for misdemeanor offenses and Andre Rogers was allowed to handle his case that way, Victor Rogers said in December.This time, Andre Rogers' case will be prosecuted through Bienville District Court, Ballance said.As a result of the first arrest, three council members, acting upon the police chief's recommendations, demoted Andre Rogers to patrolman from his supervisory role as assistant police chief in December. His mother, Maggie Roberson, is a council member but she did not participate in the discussion involving her son.In addition, Andre Rogers' pay was reduced and he was ordered to attend anger management classes. Andre Rogers' was suspended with pay through Dec. 31.Andre Rogers attended two anger management classes, the police chief said Monday. Andre Rogers provided a letter verifying his attendance "and the council released him to go back to work," Victor Rogers added.As elected police chief, Victor Rogers has control over recommendations for hiring and firing of his police officers. He has suspended Andre Rogers with pay because it takes the council to make the suspension without pay, Victor Rogers said.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20090224/NEWS03/902240328

PoliceDomesticViolence.com

A very good list of resources for OIDV victims that includes statistics.

http://policedomesticviolence.com/

Thanks to those of you who created this resource.

Officer Involved Domestic Violence Network MySpace

Words can't describe the sadness....if only they would have listened. If only someone had heard their cries. If only....if only.

http://www.myspace.com/tacoma_taser

Let there be no more victims.

Int'l Association of Chief's of Police- Domestic Violence

This is a website for the International Association of Chief's of Police. Included is recommended protocol ("Model Policy Officer-Involved Domestic Violence, 2003") for law enforcement agencies to follow when there are incidences of OIDV

http://www.theiacp.org/

Policy: http://www.scribd.com/doc/358394/DomViolenceModelPolicy

Thanks Nancy Turner for developing and to you Susan Rhoades for sharing this very valuable information.

State of LA- Domestic Violence Resources

This link will take you to a list of resources available for victims of domestic violence in Louisiana.

http://www.aardvarc.org/dv/states/ladv.shtml

Report Public Corruption- Louisiana

The Metropolitan Crime Commission: http://www.metropolitancrimecommission.org/

Metropolitan Battered Women's Program- Louisiana

There is help available. Don't wait until it's too late. Get help 24-7.

http://www.metrobatteredwomen.com/

Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence

A wonderful resource for residents of Louisiana who are victims of Domestic Violence:

http://www.lcadv.org/

A Link to Susan Murphy Milano's Website

This is a wonderful site. Please take some time to visit Susan's website.
http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/2008/11/abusive-cops-who-beat-kill-their-own.html

Thank you Cloud Writer!

You are our angel! Thank you so very much for keeping this alive and achieving results.

http://behindthebluewall.blogspot.com/

Michigan Officer Involved Domestic Violence

Thanks, and God Bless you to all who've pushed for legislation and contributed to this site.

http://michiganoidv.blogspot.com/2008/12/from-behind-blue-wall.html

Crystal Judson

Thanks to some wonderful people, Crystal Judson's name will live in our memories forever. God bless her family, friends and supporters. She paid the ultimate price...

http://behindthebluewall.blogspot.com/2008/07/another-power-positive-trickles-down.html

Officer Involved Domestic Violence

We are all powerful and it's up to us to speak out and fight for legislation that directly addresses how Officer Involved Domestic Violence cases are treated, investigated and prosecuted. How can we go to the law if our abusers are the law? Join me in fighting for legislation. Let's stop this craziness. Please e-mail your state senators, anyone in state government and be brave enough to fight for justice on a federal level. I've got a list that includes 629 cases of Officer Involved Domestic Homicides - thanks to so many who have dedicated countless hours to researching these cases- and thanks to them, I realized I wasn't alone. Combine that list with the thousands upon thousands of cases of physical and mental abuse that don't result in homicide, there is no way to ignore the fact that there is a growing epidemic.

I am a firm believer that most in law enforcement are honest, caring individuals who wear their badges with pride and dignity. Unfortunately, there are some out there who wear their badges to gain control over unsuspecting victims. I became one of those victims and I will spend the rest of my life fighting to stop this type of violence. I still have a voice and I will continue to fight for justice for all victims.

Please join me and support our mission to stop this type of violence. We can't do it alone. Please also join me in prayer that no one else will have to die or become a statistic of Officer Involved Domestic Violence. God bless every life lost and every life being tormented.