BATON ROUGE, LA — September 1, 2019 — Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul announced today he has reached a resolution with the attorneys for former officer Blane Salamoni concerning his departure from the department. This has been a long time coming and it highlights my efforts to reform the Baton Rouge Police Department.

First, let me say I stand behind our officers, men and women who put their lives on the line every day to serve and protect our citizens. However, our department no longer has room for individuals who can’t live up to its high standards or have shown a pattern of unprofessional behavior.

Public servants are and should be held to a higher standard, no one is exempt. Since taking office I have directed the department to implement national best practices and standards for 21st Century Policing. I have done this in the following ways:

• Hired Chief Murphy Paul, a decorated officer with the Louisiana State Police.
• Invested in equipment for officers such as purchasing new cruisers and radios.
• Invested in technology that uses data to fight crime efficiently.
• Updated training to help bridge the gap between officers and the community.
• Updated the department’s use-of-force policy.
• Conducted a police pay study to compare departments in the region.

I stand behind Chief Paul’s decision to put this matter behind us. Salamoni will receive no monetary compensation in this resolution.