Tuesday, February 24, 2009

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

6 comments:

  1. Rarely is domestic violence an isolated incident. The question is if repeat offenders should face severe consequences or a slap on the wrist. Any law enforcement officer who commits acts of domestic violence undermines public trust and these cases need to be taken very seriously. Otherwise, civil liability exists. Does local government want to take chances with the lives they are suppose to protect? Are officers who engage in domestic violence rehabilitated after a few anger management classes? These are questions that need to be answered truthfully and honestly.

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  2. Hi Tracey, it's Renee' from MIOIDV [michiganoidvblogspot.com]. Just popped in to welcome you and let you know how much I love your new website. I now have you listed on the MIOIDV website :)

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  3. Arcadia council does not consider officer's termination
    Shreveport Times
    By Vickie Welborn vwelborn@gannett.com
    June 10, 2009

    ARCADIA — A suspended Arcadia police officer with one ex-wife beating charge under his belt will continue to draw his pay even though the chief wants him fired for a second violent confrontation with his former wife.

    Police Chief Victor Rogers on Tuesday night recommended the termination of officer Andre Rogers, who's been on paid leave since late February for allegedly battering his ex-wife. As elected chief, Victor Rogers can recommend disciplinary action and hiring and firing but it takes the Town Council to take formal action.

    The council declined to take up the matter because of the absence of the town attorney.

    Mayor Eugene Smith predicted Tuesday afternoon that would be the outcome since attorney Patrick Jefferson had notified him he would not be at the meeting. The council could have considered the matter without Jefferson's presence.

    "He has advised us not to take it up now because it is too early," Smith said of Jefferson's recommendation concerning Andre Rogers' pending criminal charges. "You can be charged but you still have to be found guilty. I don't want to say someone is guilty until he's had his day in court. That's up to the people."

    Victor Rogers has twice submitted requests to Smith to have officer Andre Rogers' employment status placed on the agenda. Smith's response was to ask the chief to perform an internal investigation, he said.

    "I did that and recommended termination," said Victor Rogers, who is no relation to Andre Rogers. "I told him it needed to be placed on the agenda as soon as possible."

    How much longer he'll have to wait is uncertain. The status of Andre Rogers' criminal case is unknown. Assistant District Attorney Tammy Jump did not return a telephone message left with her office Wednesday afternoon.

    Andre Rogers' first arrest was on Nov. 29 on a misdemeanor charge of simple battery after he pulled his former wife from a vehicle and hit her. Rogers resolved the case within three days by signing a guilty plea and paying a $500 fine.

    As a result, Andre Rogers was demoted from assistant chief to an officer and his pay reduced from $15 to $12.50 an hour. He also was ordered to complete psychological testing and attend anger management classes. Andre Rogers attended two classes and returned to work.

    In late February, Andre Rogers was charged with a felony count of domestic abuse battery after Bienville sheriff's deputies said he beat and attempted to strangle his ex-wife.

    Andre Rogers spent several days in jail. The council — minus Maggie Roberson, who is Andre Rogers' mother — placed him on paid administrative leave.

    At the recommendation of the town's insurance carrier, Risk Management, Victor Rogers said he sent a letter to Andre Rogers and his attorney suggesting that he attend additional counseling sessions.

    "But he didn't show up. He's not contacted me since he was arrested," Victor Jones said.

    Another issue that's cropped up is Andre Rogers' pay. The new town clerk discovered this week that Andre Rogers' pay was never lowered even though the council ordered it.

    That's allowed Andre Rogers to receive more than $900 over what he should have since his March 2 suspension. All total, Andre Rogers has been paid $9,932.30 during his time off work, town records reveal.

    http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20090610/NEWS03/906100354/1062

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  4. This makes me want to throw up. He could end up killing her and he's still collecting a salary? Lock him up and throw away the key.

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  5. Arcadia police need to be more professional in there job as well as their outside life. This man obviously has anger issues and hopefully can get the right counseling. None of these officers are fit to be protectors of society. They abuse their power when they should be protecting their loved ones and inocent citizens. Instead they abuse their love ones and the people they are suppose to protect. I was a victim to one of these cops. And should have sued him. But I didnt because I was afraid. I dont care if I am a man, or a women. It doesnt matter. When a police officer is mad he goes crazy. God bless us and save us.

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  6. Dear Anonymous,

    Please know that you are not alone and I pray you are ok. There are people who can help you. Please don't allow yourself to be a victim. Police Domestic Violence is taken more seriously these days and even in Louisiana, cases have been successfully prosecuted. If you'd like to send me a private message, please send it to TDM_1965@yahoo.com. I will be happy to speak with you privately. Take care and be safe!

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