Haynesville Town Council Meeting

Transcript - Public Comment Period

March 16, 2006

Mayor H. U. “Mutt” Slaid first asked Police Chief Anthony Smith if he was going to respond to the article published in The Haynesville News on March 16, 2006. Smith said he had said all he wanted to in the article and had nothing further to add. Slaid said the staff of The Guardian-Journal has asked to address the council, but the council will have to agree to let them do it.

Holding up a copy of The Haynesville News, Slaid asked, "How can make it any plainer than this?

On motion by Joyce Major, seconded by Rene’ Lincoln-Buggs, the Council unanimously approved amending the agenda to allow Kathryn Hightower, owner of The Guardian-Journal and Susan Herring, editor of The Guardian-Journal to speak.

NOTE: The entire transcript of statements and responses are as follows:

(Kathryn Hightower read the following statement:)

Honorable Mayor and Selectmen of the town of Haynesville,

As the owner of The Guardian-Journal in Homer, I wish to speak to you regarding the release of public records to newspapers and the ongoing problem we are having with Chief Anthony Smith of the Haynesville Police Department.

La. Revised Statutes 44.3 requires a police chief to release an “initial police report” or a copy of the report to any newspaper within 72 hours of a request for the report. A police chief cannot release these reports on a once-a-week basis. Any release of reports must be done in a timely fashion. The chief is allowed to charge a reasonable fee for a copy of each report, which we will gladly pay. He is not required to fax a report to the requesting newspaper. The Homer Police Department, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Haynesville police chiefs prior to Chief Smith have all faxed reports to our office as a courtesy. Chief Smith has refused to supply reports to our office in any manner, as required by law.

Our office has made numerous telephone calls to the Haynesville Police Department in an attempt to resolve this problem. In nearly every instance, we are told Chief Smith is not there or unavailable at the time. We have attempted to leave messages for him or asked that he return our calls. When we do visit the police department Chief Smith is usually not there.

In the rare telephone conversations we have been able to have with Chief Smith, he has promised to have requested reports available for pickup at specific times. In each case we have called the Haynesville Police Department before driving to Haynesville to verify such reports are available for pickup. Chief Smith is never there when we call, and the person answering our call has no knowledge of any reports that are ready for pickup. Why should we drive to Haynesville only to return to Homer empty-handed time after time?

Recently Chief Smith called me and said he would drop off the requested reports at our Homer office on his way through town and to discuss the problems with us. We were there waiting for him, and we are still waiting for him to show up. Just yesterday we stopped at the police department to again ask for requested reports. Once again we were told there were no reports available for us.

So, despite numerous telephone requests from our office, despite several letters from our office, despite letters from Assistant DA Jim Hatch and a Louisiana Press Association attorney informing Chief Smith of his required compliance with the public records law, he has failed to release copies of the requested “initial police reports“ to The Guardian-Journal. Chief Smith could be subject to a daily fine for each report he fails to provide us. And we have been asking for some of these reports for quite some time.

At the conclusion of this meeting, we are more than willing to go with Chief Smith to the police department and wait while he collects all the reports we have requested for months now.

Thank you for your time and your consideration of this important matter. And I do have copies of the letters that were written if you would care to have them.

Susan Herring: First, I would like to say I appreciate your letting me say something tonight, and I do understand your job is very difficult as town councilmen and mayor and sometimes a very thankless job. I am not here to try to cause any division, as most of you know. Preferably I prefer to report positively for Haynesville...

Slaid: Your record, Mrs. Herring, does not show that. I want to stop you and look you, eyeball to eyeball. Your record does not show that is your policy toward Haynesville. For instance, the top letter here is something you turned over to legal counsel to sue the Town of Haynesville. Do you see anything positive about that?

Herring: I have not turned anything in to sue the Town of Haynesville.

Slaid: I've got news for you. Read it! The law firm... Honorable Anthony Smith, Haynesville Police Department, Rodell, Parsons, Coach, Blanch, Balloff and McAllister, a law corporation. All of these things here are lawyers, addressed to (Chief Smith) and to call his hand on what we have already gone through. Now, I don't know who called them, and I don't care who called them. But when you tell me your actions have been positive toward Haynesville, I'm sorry I can't agree with that. And when you get through, I'm going to let Chief Smith come back for a rebuttal because Mrs. Hightower has laid a charge at his door, and if he wants to let that ride, that's fine with me. But he is going to have the opportunity to rebut what she said.

Herring: I harbor no hard feelings toward Chief Smith at all, and I hope he doesn't harbor any hard feelings against me. I'm here for one reason, and one reason only: To try to find some way that we can communicate and get the requested reports that, by law, we have the right to, without causing any more hard feelings. I do not want any hard feelings. We...

Slaid: May I read this letter? This came from the law firm: "It is our understanding..." Now it is addressed to the Chief. "It is our understanding you have informed Mrs. Herring of, and/or instituted, a policy of making the initial police reports available to the public upon request, but only at a set day and time each week." And then you tell me you don't know anything about this. I'm sorry.

Herring: I didn't say I didn't know anything about that. We have not hired any attorney.

Slaid: I didn't say you hired him. But I know one thing: That you belong to the Press Association. And these are the lawyers for them, and somebody has notified them of Haynesville's situation and dealing with our Chief. When you step on Haynesville's toes, you are stepping on mine. I'm going to tell you right now. I don't agree with you. I don't agree with the things you've been writing, and you say that you've been positive? And this is not the first time that we have disagreed, and it won't be the last time. ...until you see Haynesville in a favorable light. And when you read this (holding up a copy of The Haynesville News), he (Chief Smith) answers everything there that you have requested. He's made it available to you, and he will rebut whatever you say."

Herring: Can you tell me how it is available to me?

Slaid: He will answer that for you.

Chief Anthony Smith (holding up copy of The Haynesville News), It's all in here. You can talk to my attorney.

Herring: Where are the reports you are making available to me?

Anthony Smith (holding up copy of The Haynesville News): It's all in here. That's all I have to say....

Slaid: I'm going to quote this article. OK?

Rene Lincoln-Buggs: Hold on. (directs a question to Jackie Roberts) I have a question. How do you get your news articles?

Jackie Roberts, Editor of The Haynesville News: I don't think I should have to tell you where I get my news articles.

Lincoln-Buggs: Are you having a problem getting them?

Roberts: No, I don't have any problem. But then sometimes I have to come up here at midnight, too, because I know Anthony's busy. He's got two officers short. He has a dispatcher that is on maternity leave, so I work around his schedule.

Lincoln-Buggs: So you're saying, you come and get what you need.

Roberts: I come and get what I need.

Lincoln-Buggs: Whenever you need it.

Roberts: And it is not faxed to me."

Lincoln-Buggs: Whenever you need it, no matter what time you need it, you come and get it?

Roberts: I come and get it. I've been up here at 11:00 p.m. before to get a picture.

Herring: I'm willing...

Lincoln-Buggs: Wait, wait, wait...hold on...I'm asking a question. (to Herring) So you're saying when you come to get it, you can't get it? (Chief Smith) is refusing to give it to you?

Herring: I'm willing to come at midnight too.

Lincoln-Buggs: But, no. Are you saying that he is refusing to give it? You come and get it, but he won't give it to you?

Herring: How can I come get it when he (the Chief) is not here to (provide) it?

Lincoln-Buggs: (Jackie Roberts) says she comes at different times, or whatever, and she gets what she needs.

Herring: Police Chief Smith called me one time, February 10, and said to come to his office. I was at his office within 15 minutes of that call. At that time, I asked him for a few things. He said he had to have a meeting with his officers that afternoon. He said for me to call him back that evening, and he would then let me know how he was going to disseminate that information. I did call him at 5:00 p.m. that afternoon and left a voice mail. I called him again all day on Monday and all day Tuesday. He never returned any of my calls. I've got to have something.....

Lincoln-Buggs: But what you're saying is that you called. (And Jackie Roberts is) saying she went out, and she sought what she wanted. That's what I am asking.

Herring: I called...

Lincoln-Buggs: She calls, and he doesn't answer. Then she comes back, or she keeps calling.

Herring: So, in other words, you are saying that if I tell you I drove up here five or six times this week, and he is not there, then...well, it is a courtesy that before I come see you, I would call and say I would like to come at a certain time. Are you there? And then you would say to me, "Yes, this is a good time to come." I do this to everybody, as a courtesy.

Lincoln-Buggs: I'm not a reporter, but I watch TV. And the thing to me is that you seek for what you want. So if he is not available—he's a working chief—if he's not available, you know, when you ask for what you want, then you find the time to go and get what you want.

Herring: I'm asking you, you tell me what I need to do to communicate with the police chief to get the reports.

Lincoln-Buggs: Frankly, I think from a personal...I'm going to answer this from a personal standpoint. Frankly, I think maybe you need to let the owner of the paper attack him. I agree with Mr. Slaid.

Herring: I'm not attacking him.

Lincoln-Buggs: You don't like Haynesville.

Herring: No, that....

Lincoln-Buggs: And you will print anything anyway you want to. I was in Washington DC, and my husband told me that you called my house. And you said, "Let me speak to Rene." Don't you ever do that again. You either say hello to my husband, or you don't call. Because you give him that much respect. That's from a personal standpoint. Don't do that again.

Slaid: You've had your time. (referring to the 3-minute time limit):

Joyce Majors: Let me say....can I say this?

Lincoln-Buggs: Before you say that, let me say this: I have the utmost respect for the owner of the newspaper, but I have a problem with who she hires to work for her. Because you just don't attack people and say they don't do things when you don't have the grounds to stand up and say that you do. If (Chief Smith) told you—I believe what he says—if he told you that he was going to give you the information, I believe he is going to give it to you. Now whatever comes up, I don't know. But as you can see, we do have crime going on: That's how the fines go up. So we work up here. We don't just sit and make phone calls and wait for somebody to do our work for us. So, you have that problem, but the reason I said to give you a chance to speak is because I like Kathy. That's all.

Majors: Let me say this: I notice we are having so many problems with you and the police department. I don't know whether it is a personal problem. I don't know whether it is an ego problem. But I got on the phone and called the attorney for the Louisiana Municipal Association, Mr. John Gallagher. I asked him the question about releasing the news to the newspaper. The first question I asked him, "Did (we) just have to do that since we have our own?" This is the first time this came up that I was involved in it. "As long as we were giving it to (the Haynesville News), what was the problem? Would it be a problem? Did (we) necessarily have to do it?" He said yes. I said okay. This is what we discussed. If you want the information, you must put in a formal request for what you need. He also told me that the mayor of this town is the administrator, and that you either make it to him or to the city clerk. He also said not to mail it and not to fax it. You are to come and pick it up. He also said that we can charge you for every copy that you get. You are free to go into that police department and look. You're free to write anything down that you want, but if you want a copy, you're going to have to pay for it. Again, he said make a formal request. Now, I'm just like Rene. Now, if the Haynesville News can get it, I don't see why you can't get it. Is the problem you want to get it first and put it in your paper first, before the Haynesville News gets it? Is that the problem?

Herring: "I don't care if (the other paper) has it in there first. I just want (the records). (Chief Smith) has already told me he would not give it to me before my deadline, and I never told him I had a problem with that. He said Wednesday afternoons, after our paper prints, that I could come and get it.

Lincoln-Buggs: It's not been available to you on Wednesday?

Herring: No.

Kathryn Hightower: No. I've stopped...

Bill Hightower: Never is the word.

Slaid: You want to answer that, Chief Smith?

Smith: No sir.

Slaid: Sir?

Smith (holding up a copy of the Haynesville News): ....in this paper.

Slaid: It's in the paper. (to Smith) You want me to read it, or do you want to read it? (Chief Smith is silent.) Slaid reads a statement attributed to Heather, who works in the office of the Police Department, from article printed in the Haynesville News) "When Mrs. Herring called me, I told her she could have any information she needed, but she would have to come to Haynesville and pick it up, that I (Heather) have been instructed by Chief Smith that you can have anything you want." Now then, let me ask you (Susan Herring) a question: Have you sent somebody else to get this?

Kathryn Hightower: I'm up here every Wednesday.

Slaid (to Herring): Have you sent your son up here to get anything?

Herring: He came to pick something up, and I did get that. Jason Branch gave that. But that was not any of my requests. That was magistrate court information.

Slaid: Here's where we are, if I understand it right. We have a controversy between you and the Chief, and I'm going to ask that you two work it out.

Herring: I'm willing. I don't have any hard feelings toward him, and I don't want any. I just want to be able to find some means of communication where we can actually.....

Slaid: Please, I want to make one request of you. Don't let us read it in The Shreveport Times before we know anything about what's going on. Would you let us know first?

Herring: I have no control over The Shreveport Times, but I have not given them anything, if that's what you're saying.

Slaid: Where did they get it?

Herring: The Shreveport Times has something?

Slaid: Read it.

Herring: The Shreveport Times gets our paper, and other paper...

Kathryn Hightower: They do not get our paper.

Majors: Let me ask you a question: You say your son picked something up?

Herring: He was in my car and was halfway up here. As they were going to leave, I asked if he could come by and pick it up. Jason Branch said that would be fine, and he let my son come. That was Jason. All the other times I've talked to Jason about picking up some of the other reports, he's said "They're not here. I don't see any, and I could not give you anything until the Police Chief has authorized me to do so." That is what Jason has told me on the phone."

Majors: But he gave you that. He gave your son that. Who gave him permission to give you that?

Herring: You may have to ask Jason Branch who gave him permission to do that.

Majors: Who gave you this about Sylvester, Sylvester Givens? Where did you get that?

Herring: I didn't get anything.... that is simply the booking that comes from the Claiborne Parish Sheriff's Office, which they fax to us every week, and to the Haynesville News. That came from their booking for the Detention Center.

Lincoln-Buggs: We are not going to fax any information.

Herring: I don't care.

Lincoln-Buggs: We don't know who is standing at the other end of the fax machine. We're just not going to do that.

Herring: I have never demanded that. (Faxing) was just what had been done in the past, the only reason why I ever mentioned (it). Once (Chief Smith) told me he didn't fax, I said that's fine. I'll come get it. I've never demanded that it be faxed. That is not an issue at all.

Lincoln-Buggs: If we talk to the Chief and we work something out—because apparently the Chief tells us that you're not coming to pick up the information he is leaving for you—and we're going to believe him....So, we'll try to work something out...but if he leaves it there and it is there and he tells the secretary or whomever to give it to you, we're going to believe that he's doing what he says he's doing.

Majors: So when do you want this information? What day do you want it? Do you want it every week?

Herring: There are times that there's not anything that I want, but it is usually when there is something that has something...

Lincoln-Buggs : We don't know what you want and what you don't want, so we just have to give you whatever it is.

Herring: I will be more than happy to send copies whenever I do request something to each and everyone of you, if you would prefer that. Then you'll know what it is I've requested and when I requested it. The law says (the Chief) has 72 hours, not counting weekends, to furnish the information. That's just the bottom line.

Lincoln-Buggs: Giving it to you on Wednesday is sufficient?

Herring: It would be okay. But if something happens on Wednesday and I could get it the next Tuesday, that's within the 72 hours—which is the law. I would like to be able to do that.

Lincoln-Buggs: If it will stop you from degrading Haynesville in the newspaper, whatever it takes. You can get what you need. If it means that I personally have to deliver it to you, I will. But I don't think that will stop you, but I'm willing to go that extra mile because I'm tired of it. I really am. I'm tired of it. There are other things we need to do as far as Haynesville is concerned. I just don't really want to talk about this. Every month is something about The Guardian-Journal. Whatever needs to be done. If I have to get (the Chief) to do it, deliver it to you—you meet me at the nursing home, whatever, we'll do it. But I don't want to see it in the newspaper anymore. It's in Minden. People I don't even know asking me what's going on. Stuff in the Minden paper about Haynesville. That's not what we're about. We're about growing and helping and making a difference, not about arguing whether you get to find out that so and so smoked crack and sold it on whatever street. We'll work something out because I don't want to hear it anymore.

Majors: I'm going to say this and I'm going to be through with it. I get the Shreveport Times everyday...(What's) in the Haynesville News and The Guardian-Journal, all the arrests and whatever they got arrested for and whatever tickets. I don't ever see it in The Shreveport Times. I guess they just have more news than you all, and I just didn't understand why that made big news. I don't see where me getting a ticket made big news. Mr. Kendrick asking about a report. You know I paid a ticket if you got me in the paper. I'm going to tell you something. People buy the papers, some of them, just for that, just like they buy the Enquirer. I'm serious. That's the only thing they read, and they're going to pay for the way they put it in. They only buy that paper for that, I say, garbage. That's what I say it is. It don't make sense to me, but that's neither here nor there.

Alvin Kendrick: Ladies and gentlemen, could we suggest that you get together to see if you can work it out?

Herring: I would like to say that you are wrong. I do not harbor hard feelings towards Haynesville or any of you. You are wrong.

Slaid (holding up the Haynesville News): Have you read this article? Have you read this article?

Herring: Yes I have read that article.

Slaid: Does that answer your question?

Herring: No.

Slaid: Next thing I want to remind you of is this: When you first came to Haynesville to report, what night were we meeting on?

Herring: Tuesday.

Slaid: Who asked us to move it to Thursday?

Herring: I did.

Slaid: And guess what we did. We have tried to work with you. I wish we could say the same thing about you working with us. I didn't say that everyone at this table agrees. Mutt Slaid is looking you in the eye. You have not been positive with the town and you're going to have to show me you are going to be positive, and then I will retract my statement.

(Meeting adjourned.)