 |
|
UPDATES
Only in Louisiana!
Yesterday the new Govenor announced his appointment to the Inspector General position for the
State. It was no other that the man who led the prosecution or should I say persecution of Chief Landry,
Steven Street. Here we have a man whose motives for the character assassination of a respected Fire
Chief become clear. With a stellar record of convictions one can surely move up. The problem with this
is that Mr. Street was so blinded by his motives to win that he forgot what his job was. It is never the job
of any prosecutor to just get a win. Their job is to seek justice. To get his win and conviction of chief
Landry, Mr. Street ignored the law and proceeded with charges that did NOT apply to the facts. He
blurred the facts so that the jury would believe that two mistakes on the Donaldsonville City fire reports
would change the grading of the West Ascension Fire District.. Streets tactic in the trial was to ignore
any evidence of innocence and to drag any whiteness that stated contrary to his position through the
dirt. He accused, without evidence, the president of the Louisiana State Firemen’s Association of being
“a man that teaches Fire Chiefs how to cheat”. His “team destroyed the credibility of Dwayne Gipson by
what should be considered whiteness tampering. Justice be damned! A stellar conviction rate gets you
a new job and more money,
By Paul Gilmore
*****************************************************
Chief Landry needs $8500 by Monday to file the appeal. His Lawyer Karl Koch wants another $25000
(that’s correct 25 with three 0s) to continue defending him. You would think that he had a conscious!
While working with Kirk I have come to realize that PIAL is not only corrupt to the core, the State of
Louisiana through its Department of Insurance has never regulated the agency it has created and given
the power to control your fire insurance rates. That’s about to change. I have had meetings with Jim
Donelon and some of deputy commissioners. Working with Rep Karen ST. Germain we have outlined
regulations to hold PIAL accountable for the first time. I have been to meetings with the Louisiana State
Fireman’s Association legislative committee, and asked them to support legislation that would limit the
power of PIAL. I have been working behind the scenes to abolish them entirely. The people at PIAL could
have stood up followed there own standards and stopped the whole mess with Kirk. PIAL is truly guilty
of massive insurance fraud! They have over many years manipulated fire grading and cost the rate payer
untold $$$$$$$$$!
PLEASE contact your legislator and ask them to support legislation completely revising or
abolishing PIAL.
I am just a common person and I have written two pieces of legislation. One of which is the first
challenge to PIALs power since its creation in 1896 both have become law. I know the power of common
sense and perseverance. Please watch for legislation in the upcoming session. Rep St Germain and Rep
Jim Morris will be sponsoring bills that will lower your fire insurance premiums by requiring the dead
asses at the Department of Insurance to do their job and regulate PIAL.
I will be meeting this Friday with a Deputy Director and legislators at the department. I will present an
outline for legislation that will make our Department of Insurance hold PIAL accountable.
On another front; The Louisiana Legislative Auditor has uncovered massive financial abuses within PIAL.
Their last audit is an unbelievable read. Go to the Legislative auditors web and search for PIAL audits.
When you contact your legislator PLEASE ask them to call the office of the Legislative Auditor and ask
them to continue to investigate PIAL.
I know this doesn’t help Kirk but please help me insure this never happens to another Fire Chief.
By Paul Gilmore
*****************************************************
Back to CB Relations Home Page...