Were fire station’s actions criminal?

D.A. to decide if charges will be filed in St. Rose

An investigation into allegations of misuse of funds at the St. Rose Fire Department is over. St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne says that his office’s investigation is complete and the police report was submitted to District Attorney Harry Morel’s office three weeks ago.

“The Sheriff’s Office has turned their findings over to the district attorney,” Parish President V.J. St. Pierre said. “At this time, we are awaiting a decision about whether the D.A. will take any action in the matter.”

St. Pierre said he will not see the findings of the investigation until it is made available to the general public.

The misuse of public funds occurred when the board of the St. Rose Fire Department supposedly allowed Councilman and Fire Chief Larry Cochran’s mother to live behind the fire station in a FEMA trailer. While there, Cochran’s mother allegedly used public utilities without paying for them throughout her more than two-year stay.

Before the investigation, Cochran said that he would be willing to pay back the cost of the utilities his mother had used.

The investigation also centered on a St. Charles Parish school teacher and her husband that lived in the fire station during the same time period and supposedly used public utilities.

A 2006 audit into the fire station also revealed that a trailer purchased with public funds was sold and not put up for public auction. Instead, the trailer was sold to a private individual and the money from the sale was put in the fire station’s private account.

Councilwoman-at-large Carolyn Schexnaydre appealed for local officials to investigate the allegations in a letter as well as in a council resolution that she wrote in April.
“It was a very difficult decision to have to ask for an investigation into the problems about the St. Rose Fire Department,” she said. “When I ran for office, I ran on open and honest government and I do believe that is why I was elected.”

Schexnaydre says the people put their trust in her and expected nothing less.
“There are many public employees who have seen or know of illegal activities, but will not come forward because of possible retaliation,” she said. “This is wrong.  A person should be able to report illegal activities without fear of being fired.”

Schexnaydre says that employee allegations should be taken seriously and investigated and any action deemed necessary should be taken to correct the problem.
“I appreciate that Sheriff Greg Champagne did his job and took on the investigation,” she said. “Now that it is in the district attorney’s hands, we will have to wait and see what the outcome of the investigation will be.”

A 2007 audit of the fire station has also been completed and should give an account of all financial activity during one of the years in which the FEMA trailer was used. A spokesperson for the state’s Legislative Auditor’s office says the audit will be available for public viewing on July 28 at http://www.louisianalegislativeauditor.com.

A representative from that office will also be on hand at the Aug. 4 council meeting to explain the offices duties and answer questions from council members.