ARNAUDVILLE, La. (KLFY) – The Arnaudville Town Council held a public hearing for the Town budget for the upcoming 2024-2025 Operating Year. 

Police officers and dispatchers now have an immediate pay raise after many citizens addressed the council and supported the police department.

However, the fight to get there took time. Police chief Josh Ross said the last two years, the police department's been the only department that's been cut. “I won't say that we're underfunded because we're not. We're coming in under budget significantly. What I do see is the pay for the police officers and the dispatchers alike are significantly lower than the rest of the town. I've asked them to raise that, at which point I was told no.”

Chief Ross said he has one dispatcher who has been here for ten years. Several others have been there for at least three or four years. Before the raise, they were making $12.50 an hour. The chief said McDonald's or Wal-Mart workers can make $15.

The new raise gives dispatchers $13.50. Then the chief explained how two police officers were making $15 and it was asked to bring it to $16. The new raise is $16.08. “Small towns we don't lose police officers to other small towns. It's not a thing. We lose them to sheriff's offices. The town of Arnaudville itself does not offer health insurance, 100% paid for by the police. They don't offer any of the benefits that the sheriff's office does in terms of the promotion, and the increase that comes with the pay. So it's important retention-wise that we do pay them somewhat of what they're worth,” said the chief.

While the police department has four officers not including the chief and four dispatchers, Chief Ross said it is enough to take care of the town. “I think in terms of policing, we've come a long way in two years. We're very community-oriented. We're at every football game, every baseball game. People see the police and they like knowing the police's names,” said the chief.

The citizens in attendance supported the police department to be paid what they were worth. Alderman Jamie Huval requested the council give a $5,000 raise to the police chief but it was not approved. “The most important thing was my staff. I went in there. My staff deserves raises. They work hard. They got them. Is it enough? No. Will we try it again next year? Absolutely. But I think the important thing is they're taking a step in the right direction as far as I go. Listen, it is what it is. Silence speaks volumes.

There's always another year and another vote,” the chief says after the regular meeting ends. He adds, “This council and this administration is politics. They have secret meetings. They meet amongst themselves and that's okay. It is what it is. I think the only one that showed their true support for the police department was Councilman Jamie Huval.”

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